Facts about the Cheetah
Unlike other big cats, the sounds the cheetah makes are totally different. It cannot roar but it can purr, bleat, bark growl hiss and chirp. These sounds can be heard a mile away. The sounds can be described as "nyam-nyam" for cubs feeding, "Ihn-ihn" for mothers calling her young, "purring" like a house cat when its playing especially with the cubs and bleating when in distress. The cheetah cannot roar as it only has one thyroid bone in the throat unlike the lion, tiger, leopard and jaguar that have two and can therefore be able to roar. Its is well known for speed. It is recorded as the fastest animal on the planet earth. It is much faster than most modern automobiles. It can reach speeds of 71 km per hour in less than two seconds though it can only maintain the speed for less than a minute. It is built for speed, every part of its body is well adapted fot high acceleration. Unlike other cats, it is diurnal and mostly feeds during the day. It preys in the early hours of the day and late afternoons. It relies mostly on its sight when looking for prey. The cheetah is one of the smallest cats. It is purely a carnivore and does not feed on carrion. It also does not return to any prey that is left behind after a feed. The males can live in groups of up to three brothers but the females live solitary lives though near their birth mothers. They only mix with the males when mating. This can happen at any time throughout the year.
Dickson is the Chief Tour Guide and one of the Directors of Adventure Africa Expedition. For more information on his work please visit http://advenafrica.com/index.htm