| Joshua's Cheetah Tale
by Joshua Higareda
The Cheetah is the fastest mammal on earth,
reaching speeds of up to 70 mph. Mostly found in
Africa and some small pockets of population in
Iran and Russia, the Cheetah is critically
endangered and it is a race to save these beautiful
and intelligent animals.
They have small heads and jaws, long, slender legs
and a flexible backbone. A long tail with a heavy tip
also helps to balance when attempting high speed turns
Cheetahs communicate in bird like chirps and are
unable to roar. Adult Cheetahs can weigh 120-130 lbs.
Cheetahs usually breed in the wet season. Unfortunately,
50%-75% cubs dies before reaching maturity. This is
mainly because of some dangerous predators. Cheetahs
tend to hunt small animals because their small head
head and jaws are not powerful enough to tackle large
animals. Cheetahs, after sprinting, need a rest for
at least 20-30 minutes. This makes them vulnerable,
because scavengers such as hyenas and vultures
can steal their kill.
Once thriving creatures, the Cheetah is a highly
endangered species. There are only 9,000 to 12,000
Cheetahs left in the world. Conservation is the key
to this awe inspiring animal and we must work to
achieve that goal.
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