Habitat: Savannas, both open and more densely vegetated. These places give cheetahs the open areas they need for quick stalks and chases. They are not found in forest areas or wetlands.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheetahs stalk their prey, approaching to within about 50 feet before dashing out from cover and sprinting at the targeted animals. They grab their victims\u2019 throats and suffocate their quarry within a few minutes. They have long legs and a long, flexible spine built for explosive acceleration and high speed. The cheetah\u2019s stride, or the length from when one paw leaves the ground until that paw again touches the ground, is about 25 \u2013 30 feet. A sprinting cheetah can reach 45 miles per hour within 2.5 seconds. Top speed\u2014up of up to 64 miles per hour\u2014can only be briefly sustained. They must catch their breath before dragging their prey to cover. Then they must eat quickly before they lose the kills to other bigger or more aggressive carnivores. Female cheetahs live alone, except when raising cubs. Males live in small permanent groups called coalitions, which are usually made up of two to four brothers. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs cannot roar, but they can purr when they inhale and exhale like domestic cats. Cheetahs eat primarily hoofed mammals weighing less than 90 pounds including gazelles and young wildebeest. They will also eat smaller game such as hares, warthogs, and birds. The length of a cheetah ranges from 3 1\/2 to 4 1\/2 feet long, not including the 30-inch tail. They weigh between 75 and 145 pounds and stand two to three feet tall at the shoulder. Males tend to be a bit more robust and weigh about ten pounds more than females.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cheetahs conservation status is listed as vulnerable and they\u2019re on the Red List of Threatened Animals. Once widespread across arid Africa, Middle East, and east to India, the cheetah has suffered dramatic declines over the last century. Their biggest threat is habitat loss due to human encroachment. Widespread habitat destruction has fragmented the cheetah\u2019s habitats, isolating many populations. They are also hunted for their spotted coats and because they sometimes attack livestock. The cheetah\u2019s prey has also been overhunted by people. They suffer from genetic defects due to inbreeding, possibly the result of a population bottleneck (a sharp decline) that occurred as far back as 10,000 years ago. Scovill Zoo supports cheetah conservation in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Scovill Zoo we have four brothers named after characters in the movie Guardians of the Galaxy. Their names are Groot, Yondu, Star Lord, and Drax the Destroyer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"IMG](\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/08\/IMG_0808-scaled-760x0-c-default.jpg\")
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