Cheetah - is one of the most beautiful and graceful feline predators.It attracts with its color, elegance, and is considered to be the fastest of all terrestrial beings.Today, these predators are separated into two main types: the African and the Asiatic cheetah.Animal of the latter group is on the verge of extinction.
Exterior features
cheetah is different from other kinds of feline predators.An animal very long legs, his head relative to the body is small, muscular torso and slightly elongated.The ears are small round shape.The height of the cat, if measured at the withers, reaches meters, and its weight varies from 40 to 65 kg.All these figures are made from an animal other than a runner.In addition, the length of the elastic tail is a great "wheel" at high speed.The difference between these felines is that the claws on its feet are not drawn, but always remain "on call."This feature requires a cheetah to run when the pads are not "slipping" from the ground.Asian cheetah has a sandy yellow color, which are scattered small black spots.From the eyes of the muzzle go down black bars that highlight their beauty.Fur animal short.
On the hunt ...
Cheetah is a weak predators who suffer from "high school."For example, lions, leopards and even hyenas may select an animal legally caught prey and chase runner.He can not stand up for themselves, for the reason that very exhausting during the pursuit of game and do not have time to gain strength to defend his lunch.Therefore, Asiatic cheetah goes hunting during the day, at the time, yet powerful predators rest from the heat.
Find a suitable target, a predator approaches her almost openly.From a distance of 10 meters begins a short sprint.Already two seconds the speed of a cheetah reach 75 km / h, the maximum in pursuit, he will develop about 110 km / h.The animal is able to dramatically change direction, landing well to the point that it requires.At this point, the breath is amplified by 150 times.Sharp claws on the wrist of the forelimb, he knocks the victim, and then strangling her.But this race can last only 20 seconds, for which it will run about 400 meters.If during this period Asiatic cheetah does not have time to catch the target, it ceases to pursue, because it lacks oxygen.50% of these hunts for this predator are unsuccessful.It is also noteworthy that the beast is powered only by the victims, who caught and killed himself.
diet
These cat prefer to hunt small prey size.Thus, in their diet may include gazelles, kids wildebeest, impala.In difficult times, when the animal can not find the usual prey, he catches rabbits, birds, and even rodents.Cheetahs often hunt in pairs or threes, so now they are able to overcome the victim of a large size or to catch an ostrich.The main power of the swift remain Thomson gazelle.They make up the diet of cats almost 90%.Cheetahs looking for their prey, using mainly sight, not smell.This species belongs to the territorial predators.It is interesting that only to the extent of their possessions can hunt cheetah.The animal is sometimes combined with siblings to protect their territory from other spotted runners.In addition, females who reside within the boundaries of the conquered belong to the victorious males.
Kittens
The offspring hatched about three months.In light usually appears 2-5 kittens.Since the mother has to be away from time to time to hunt, kids bezzaschitnymi.Imenno remain so until the age of three are crumbs unusual appearance.On the shoulder there is a gray fluffy "mane", and ponytail - the brush, which is why confuse predators kittens with a ferocious honey badger and is not suitable for them.But the mother of these symptoms can easily find their offspring in the bushes.Before you go hunting, caring cat hiding their young.Because the animal is not satisfied for myself home, the family is constantly "moving" in various places.Despite this protection, the survival rate of young animals have always been very small.Care for crumbs is very difficult, because they are too frisky and began to play, may not notice the danger.Within eight months, the female feeds its young with milk.Asian cheetah mother lives near a year and a half, and then leaves.During this time, he needs to learn how to produce their own food.Total animal live to 20 years.Although this number is higher zoos.Living in captivity, even in perfect conditions, this beast is almost does not give offspring.
Man and Cheetah
has long been observed that the animal is easy to get used to humans.In ancient times it was caught hunting Asiatic cheetah.Description of the process of hunting shows that this predator could afford only wealthy people.In the eyes of a cheetah recapped in a cart brought him to the place where herds.After that, the animal opens his eyes and gave him the opportunity to attack the victim.
Soon almost every nobleman had his own cheetah and not even one.Although many animals created ideal conditions, they will not breed if and led the offspring, it is very, very rare.To keep the number of these "pets" rich young constantly caught in the wild.This is partly reflected in the fact that the population of the cat fell, and in Asia and India disappeared altogether Asiatic cheetah.The photo above shows just tame predator.
on the verge of extinction
But the sharp decline of the species was due to the fact that people began to develop wilderness areas, inhabited by these animals spotted.In addition, while cheetahs were hunted man killed for their beautiful fur.Today, this kind of kept in some zoos, where there are 23 individuals in the wild there are only ten, it says the Russian Red Book.Asian cheetah continues to die, because the freedom to reduce the number of production, which is the predator's main power source.African animal species are still usual on the continent, but its population is declining rapidly.
