Cheetah

The cheetah lives in small groups or alone. The groups are composed of the mother and her cubs, several related adult males or male and female siblings.

The main characteristic of the cheetah is its speed, reaching 122k/h and is able to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds. This ability is possible thanks to its physique: the length of its legs and body, the size of its nostrils and lungs, which are larger compared to other felines. It has a large heart and powerful arteries to transport more oxygen to the muscles.

It has semi-retractable claws, unlike other felines, which give it the ability to better cling to the ground as it runs and perform those characteristic turns. Half of its muscle mass is in its spine which flexes in the run in a way almost incomprehensible to humans (it almost makes a reverse V).

The conservation status of the cheetah is affected by the low genetic variation within the species, loss of its habitat, indiscriminate hunting of its food source and the capture of offspring for commercialization as pets.

The Selwo Aventura cheetah group is part of the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA).