It Ain’t Easy Being Cheesy

Nature 2 Minutes

Built for speed, cheetahs are slender, with long thin legs and a long tail. They have coarse, short fur that is yellowish tan in color and covered in solid black spots. Black tear-shaped streaks on the face help to reflect the sun when hunting. Adults weigh around 46–158 lb.

How many spots do cheetahs have?

Cheetahs have between 2,000 and 3,000 spots, which help them to camouflage themselves.

Where do cheetahs live?

Previously, cheetahs were wide-spread across African and Asian continents, but now they are confined mostly to dry open grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa, with the majority inhabiting natural reserves or parks.

What do cheetahs eat?

Cheetahs are carnivores, so they rely on meat for survival. Their diet is made up primarily of smaller antelopes including springbok, steenbok, Thomson’s gazelle, impalas, and duiker. Cheetahs will also feed on wildebeest calves and, occasionally, smaller animals including rabbits, hares and birds.

How often do cheetahs drink?

Cheetahs have evolved to live in an environment where water is scarce, and can survive on one drink every three to four days.

Are cheetahs solitary?

Female cheetahs are solitary, living alone or with their young. Males however, live in small family groups of 2–3 brothers, known as coalitions.

How fast can cheetahs run?

The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. They can accelerate from 0 to 68 miles per hour in just three seconds. Cheetahs are the only big cat that can turn in mid-air while sprinting.

How does the cheetahs tail help when running?

Cheetahs long muscular tails have a flat shape that is used for balance and steering. The tail essentially acts like a rudder on a boat.

When do cheetahs give birth?

Cheetahs start reproducing at a young age; males at the age of one and females at two. There is no specific breeding season and cheetahs will mate with many individuals throughout their lifetimes.

Male cheetahs do not remain with the females after mating, and do not play any role in rearing young. Female cheetahs on the other hand are caring, affectionate and dedicated mothers. Following a pregnancy of three months, female cheetahs will give birth to a litter of 2–8 cubs in a secluded spot such as a rocky outcrop or marshy area with tall grass.

Cubs are vulnerable to predators, and many do not survive the first year. Initially, mothers leave the cubs hidden while hunting, but cubs will start accompanying her at around six weeks.

How long do cubs stay with their mothers?

Female cheetahs spend a long time caring for their cubs and teaching them essential survival skills like hunting. Cubs typically stay with their mothers for one and a half to two years.

What is the biggest threat to cheetahs?

Cheetahs are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. With around 10,000–12,000 individuals left in the wild, cheetahs are Africa’s most endangered big cat.

Historically, cheetahs have been hunted for their fur, but today some of the biggest threats to their survival are loss of habitat, and competition for resources. Cheetahs require large areas of land for survival, so increased human settlements and road construction in their habitat puts them at risk.

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Published by pat frederick

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173 thoughts on “It Ain’t Easy Being Cheesy”

  14. have i mentioned yet (or maybe for the 50th time?) that my son is the King of Last Minute?
    I was just texting with him because he sends me a photo of the Christmas stocking I cross stitched for him some 30 years ago. “you know what would make a great gift for (DIL)? one of these…she doesn’t have one…”
    we are going to visit them for Christmas NEXT week…but I should get a kit and make it somehow in time for then…?
    he has no clue how long it will take

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Take a red toe wool sock and weave some red and green narrow ribbon to make her initial in it – put an IOU for next year for the real thing – with a picture of the finished product – from the ad for the kit with a note that he didn’t let you know in time! Put a a pair or two of comfy socks in there and some candy and lip gloss, etc. in there too.

      Liked by 2 people

        1. Yep – an IOU is definitely the way to go! Don’t mess up your holiday baking staying up all hours trying to do a big job like that!

          Liked by 1 person

    1. i saw what that “delicate blossom” wore to the palace’s gathering. I too would have asked her where she was from. she wasn’t dressed as any Briton I’ve ever seen. she dressed as a provocateur–she wanted to stand out and be questioned.

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  19. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

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