THE CHEETAH
The purr of cat and dog's scratch
The ancestor of cheetahs originated in North America, 4 million years ago during the Pliocene period known as "Myracinonyx". It could be the common ancestor of the cheetah and puma and have migrated to different continents during the ice age."
Its descendants have developed the features found in today's cheetah that makes it a unique animal.
The "giant" cheetah Acinonyx Pardensis, dispersed in large numbers during the ice age in China, Europe and India.
1.1 million years ago during the Pleistocene (between 1.6 million years and 10 000 years), "intermediate" cheetahs, the Acinonyx Jubatus, spread from Africa to China.
200 000 years ago, Acinonyx Jubatus, like most of our current cheetah, moved into the African savannah, its territory now, and the plains of the Middle East but very few of them remained in Europe, China and India.
The English called it Cheetah, a name derived from a Persian name meaning «speckled» that describes so well the round spots of its dress.
The cheetah is one of the best examples of Darwin's theory on the evolution of species. Living in open spaces, it was forced to hunt with hounds. This activity is specific and unusual in big cats, it has changed the structure of its legs and elongated its members, while reducing the bearing surface of the feet. Larger claws have become solid and hard like those of dogs to improve decision to ground.
Its body is tipically feline when its legs have been adapted to the race. This sprinter can reach speeds between 100 and 110 km/h.
Its mean visual acuity is similar to that of dogs but is offset by a hearing and a highly developed sense of smell. The cheetah grows little cries like the cries of birds or mewing brief alone when angry just like our tomcat!
The effectiveness of its chase lies in its ability to speed up rapidly but not beyond a few meters because of its hort of breath and strenght. If its game of choice is the antelope, it also likes smaller prey (birds and rodents).
The cheetah shows a loving companion for its girlfriend when comes the season of love. They live very close to each other and play love games that is surprising for big cats.
After three months of gestation, the female gives birth to 3 or 4 cubs with a little more than a quarter will not survive, victims of other predators (lions, hyenas and leopards).
However, Nature is well done and has caused the female a physiological response that allows it if it accidentally loses its significance, to mate again within 8 days. The lioness has that same ability.
Despite this ultimate resource, cheetahs'life remain difficult. Man's action is very harmful plus a hostile environment make it survival uncertain.
Laurie Marker, founder and director of CCF, has devoted her life to safeguarding the cheetah, the most endangered big cat in Africa.
She has been working with cheetahs since 1974 and established the CCF in 1990 before it found its place directly on the ground in Namibia.
In 1992, the CCF has been recognized as «Namibian Trust».
CCF focuses its action on two poles of excellence (and many other actions!) such as research and education.
These programs include combinations of conservation efforts in-situ and ex-situ and collaborations with institutions worldwide.
The education programs seek to convince national and international countries that cheetahs are a precious resource that deserves protection. These education programs can bring to humanity sufficient knowledge for its survival and a better cohabitation between cheetahs and farmers
The problem is that today, cheetahs tend to move away from national parks and reserves which are home to many predators that they do not want to confront.
The cheetah has been brought to share the land with cattle and men not without difficulties. It happens sometimes that it attacks cattle although it prefers game (now too rare...) Then it becomes a threat to farmers who do not hesitate to eliminate it.
Sources : CCF - "Les Félins" de François de la Grange, Edition Nathan
AkaroA team wishes to thank Dr Laurie Marker and Patricia Tricorache from the CCF for their advice and support!