Cheetahs have short, coarse tan-coloured coats with small black spots, and distinctive black marks running like tears from their eyes to their mouths. They are unique in that their claws are only slightly retractable – giving them extra grip at high speed. And, unlike the other big cats, cheetahs have no roar – instead they yelp, purr and chirrup.
Cheetahs are built for speed, their superior lung capacity, enlarged nasal passages, large liver and heart and tremendous flexibility making them the fastest hunter in Africa, capable of reaching over 95km/h in seconds. They hunt in the morning and early evening, stalking their prey before giving chase.
The slender, muscular cheetah is a protected and endangered species. Declining numbers of its natural prey, poaching, loss of habitat, trapping and shooting, combined with a high infant mortality rate (75-90%) and a lack of genetic diversity which makes them susceptible to disease, all mean that a glimpse of this big cat is something very special indeed.