Cheetah Facts: The Fast Cat

Cheetahs are amazing cats, unfortunately, they are also endangered. While we may think of cheetahs racing in the wild in order to catch their prey, the harsh reality is that a large percentage of cheetahs are now living in zoos. One disturbing cheetah fact is that about 100 years ago, there were close to 100,000 around the world. They were once located not only in Africa, but in Asia and the Mediterranean region as well. Unfortunately, in most regions cheetahs are now extinct and their population now hovers around 12K to 15k- most of which reside in Africa.

The Asian Cheetah
A surprising cheetah fact is that one type of cheetah- the Asian cheetah used to live in generous numbers in countries such as India, Israel, and Iran. Today, however this type of Cheetah- perhaps the rarest of them all numbers approximately 100 with the entire population living in Iran.

Super Fast Cheetahs
Perhaps the best known cheetah fact is its speed. Cheetahs are considered to be the fastest land mammal in the world reaching speeds up to 70 miles per hour. Incredibly, cheetahs can accelerate with a speed of 0 to 40 in three simple steps and 0 to 70 in only a few seconds beating practically all exotic sports cars.

Cheetahs Practically Fly
One of the most incredible cheetah fact is the way this gorgeous cat runs. While most of us have seen footage of this amazing cat run full speed after prey, if you slow the film down, it is possible to see that a cheetah usually only touches one of its four feet at a time and even more amazingly is that during a high speed sprint, the cheetah can barely touch the ground with practically any of its paws-giving the illusion of flying through the air.

Cheetahs are Made for Speed
Cheetahs are amazing creatures; another interesting cheetah fact is that this cat is designed by nature for speed. Cheetahs have huge hearts and livers; they also have a sleek body and paws that include tread like pads. While a cheetah is made for speed, the amount of energy it takes to power the acceleration of this cat is immense. After a few failed attempts at full speed to catch prey, it may not have the energy to hunt any longer and will starve.

For more interesting cheetah facts, the Smithsonian Magazine has put together an insightful article on the beauty and life of the cheetah. You can read it today by visiting our website.

About The Author:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com Smithsonian magazine is a monthly magazine created for modern, well-rounded individuals with diverse interests. It chronicles the arts, history, sciences and popular culture of the times. Each month, expect articles from the Smithsonian Institution's award-winning, monthly general interest magazine, plus exclusive Web articles, videos, blogs, photographs and more.

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Title:	Cheetah Facts: The Fast Cat
Author:	Roger Smith
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Cheetah Facts: The Fast Cat