Cheers to the Cheetah

How magnificent is the art of camouflage?

This cheetah cub’s coat effortlessly blends into the grass and sand.

Below are 5 evolutionary skills of a Cheetah:

HIDE
Camouflage is protection for her against predators like lions and leopards. Cubs are born fluffy but gradually develop as many as 2000 spots on their sleek coats.

HUNT
As much as cheetahs are camouflaged from predators, it also serves them well when hunting for prey as the dry bush makes them difficult to ‘spot’. They hunt during the day as their night vision is poor and will prey upon smaller animals, like Springbok, warthog and impala.

DRINK
Cheetahs can survive for several days without water. They derive their fluid requirement from the food itself and usually drink water only once in three to four days!

EAT
Not only do they run fast, cheetahs usually eat soon after the hunt. This is mostly due to threats from other carnivores, such as hyenas or lions that likely share the same habitat and will come in for the kill, quite literally.

INDICATOR
A cheetah’s tail can be as long as 80 centimeters and tends to be rather flat. The long tail aids the cheetah in steering and changing direction while running. It acts as a rudder on a boat, especially at high speed!

Cheers to the Cheetah!

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