Cheetah is one of the exotic animals which are kept as
pets since five thousand years and can be dated back to Ancient
Egyptian civilization. Initially they were used for hunting.
Scientifically known as Acinonyx Jubatus, they are fastest of
the wild cats and also amongst the animals but aren’t good at
climbing trees like other cats. They are capable of reaching a
speed of seventy mile per hour and within merely three seconds
they can accelerate from zero mph to seventy mph. The length of
the cheetah’s body ranges from forty five to fifty five inches
and the weight ranges from ninety to one hundred and forty
pounds.
They originated from Africa, and can be found in other parts of
the world such as Central Asia and Iran. They have an elongated
body with a small head and narrow waist, which facilitates
aerodynamics. Cheetahs have semi retractable blunt claws which
help them to get good grip during fast pursuits. The color of
its coarse fur is tan and has small black spots. A rare kind of
cheetah known as King Cheetah is larger in size with big merging
spots. Its thirty three inch long tail is encircled with five to
six black circles and it helps in taking sharp turns as it acts
like a rudder. Black lines which start from its eyes and run
along the sides of the nose towards the mouth are called tear
marks. These lines enable them to see long distances and
minimize the glare of the sun.
Cheetahs can be trained very easily and also they are very
caring animals. They make noises such as chirp, yowl, yip, growl
and hiss and their purr is very deafening. But they do not have
the ability to roar like other big cats and also are diurnal,
where as others are nocturnal. They are carnivorous animals and
hunt for small mammals and young ones of larger mammals.
Cheetahs hunt when it isn’t hot, like at dawn and dusk. They
also do not go after animals which they cannot get hold of
easily and they hunt not by smell but by vision. Nearly fifty
percent of attempts end in failure as they give up fast. One of
the reasons can be the immense heat which is generated while
running, which can be serious for the animal. They rest for at
least half hour after the intense chase. They also have the
ability to make sounds of some birds, in order to catch them.
Cheetahs always eyes for the animal which is distant from its
herd. It chases the animal and then trips it. After the animal
falls, it suffocates the animal by biting underneath the throat
as it does not have the strength to break the neck. For some
reason they do not hunt weak and old animals. During high speed
chases, cheetahs can get adequate oxygen with the help of big
nostrils. They also have an enlarged heart and lungs which
utilize the oxygen to the maximum by increasing the respiratory
rate while running.
Cheetahs also fall under the category of endangered species.
Many organizations and acts have been implemented to conserve
them. One of the reasons for their endangerment is that they are
environment sensitive and are the most vulnerable. When held in
captivity, they should be provided with their natural habitat.
Studies have proven that there is a lack of genetic diversity in
cheetahs which are held in captivity. They don’t reproduce
regularly like other felines and find it difficult to breed.
Also their lifespan decreases and the rate of survival are low.
In residential areas, they have been killed by poachers on large
scale for protecting cattle. Such farmers are now being provided
with dogs that can guard the livestock and scare away the wild
cheetah. It has also being hunted for its fur with beautiful
pattern.
To obtain a permit to keep cheetahs as pets is not only a big
problem for individual owners but also for big zoos. People who
have passion for cheetahs and haven’t got the permission to own
them can donate generously to conserve the species.