Cheetah Facts

Cheetah Speed – this is a link to speed –  some cheetah facts

The cheetah as we all know is the fastest land animal on the planet, but there are animals that have far greater speed+distance combinations, the humble Mongolian Wild Ass being one. The cheetah can attain high speed for no more than about 30 seconds. You can read more about how she achieves this raw speed by clicking on the heading to this section. In summary it is cheetah speed and acceleration, which sets her apart from all other land animals is due to a rare combination of:

• size designed for speed
• an abandonment of efficiency and a focus on pure speed over a set short distance
• flexibility of the back
• co-ordination of leg and back muscles
• a massive stride
• physical attributes such as long legs, over sized liver, lungs and heart.

The video shows the flexibility in the spine, a crucial factor in generating speed. Click the header to this section to read why. Also see: How fast can a cheetah run?

The cheetah’s great speed was used by people for sport, a cruel sport however (perhaps it still is). The Times newspaper of 21st January 1956 reported on the pastime of a maharajah who kept 2 cheetahs for hunting. He clearly loved the pastime. The cheetahs were trained. They were transported to an area were the very fast (max about 50+ mph) blackbuck were grazing. During transportation the cheetahs had their heads covered in the same way as hawks have their heads covered before being released.

Once the maharajah, his large entourage and the Times journalist were close enough to the blackbuck, a cheetah was released. The cheetah performed his trick and managed to catch a buck. One of the maharajah’s employees walked over to the heavily breathing cheetah and terrified buck and slit the throat of the blackbuck collecting some of the blood in an antique container. He poured the blood into the mouth of the Cheetah to encourage him to release the blackbuck, which he did.

This was a way of life in 1956 in India, another cheetah fact. It demonstrates the relationship we have with the cheetah and other large wild cats. We relate to them on our terms or not at all except to kill them. The story is provided from the Times Archive. See Hunting with Cheetahs.