Run, Cheetah, Run—at Zoo Safari Park

Starting this weekend the San Diego Zoo Safari Park will let people observe the explosive power of the land's fastest animal, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). The cheetah will be allowed to race after a metal lure at 5 p.m. each evening during the summer extended park hours.

What a treat to see this highly specialized and endangered animal explode down the track using the body it was made for.

This wonderfully designed feline has a long tail to use as a rudder while running. The long legs have paws that are more dog-like with non-retractible claws. The chest is deep to hold large lungs and heart. The back is long and flexible for the bounding strides and quick turns, The small head doesn't move from it's focused position while the huge shoulders propel the cheetah forward.

The cheetah can reach the speed of 70 miles per hour. However, the expended energy increases their body temperature and they require about 20 minutes of cool down before they can eat their prey.

This is why they lose more of their meals than they eat. I've watched them hunt and during this cool down phase, vultures, Marabou storks, jackals and other scavengers begin arriving and moving slowly inward towards the cheetah and prey. The cheetah will eat quickly as much as possible before they are driven off. If they are approached by another predator such as a lion, leopard or hyena they simply run for their life. 

It's spotted fur coat has made it a victim of poachers. The base color is a tawny reddish yellow with small blackish brown spots. There is another coat pattern which has spots linked together and solid dark markings along the back. This is the King Cheetah once thought to be a different variety but it is now known to be a coat color gene such as leopards and black leopards. 

At 130 lbs it may be called one of the big cats but to scientific purists it doesn't belong in the big league of "big cats" because it cannot roar. Lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards (not Snow leopards) roar. Cheetahs chirp.

The life of a cheetah is hard. Males may live together but females are solitary. Once they roamed most of Africa, Asia and Iran. Now they are endangered with rapidly diminishing numbers due to poaching, being shot as pests and competition amongst other large predators within the National Parks. Their gene pool is shrinking and inbreeding has harmed them.

They have been used by man for sporting and their images are seen on ancient hieroglyphics in Eygpt. Kublar Kahn supposedly had 1000 cheetahs in a palace. The cheetahs were fitted with hoods, as falcons are hooded, and released to chase down prey for the ruler. While cheetahs have been kept for many years they reproduce poorly in captivity. And no, they have never been domesticated. 

One to six cubs are born but 90% of them will perish. All other predators will kill the young. The cubs have a distinctive bushy growth of fur across their back, head and neck. A Tanzanian guide told  me that the strange fur made the cub look like a honeybadger and that any predator who had ever faced the ferocious badger would keep away from the cub.

A Zulu story explains the facial markings. A lazy hunter stole cubs to hunt for him and the mother cheetah cried and wailed. A tribal chief asked why she cried. After her story, the cubs were returned and the lazy hunter banished forever as a disgrace. But because the mother had cried so hard and long the tear stained black markings remained on her face forever and for all future generations.

If you go to watch these magnificent speed machines have your camera clicking as they approach. If you wait too long you might get just a tail shot. Enjoy and be prepared for the heat. Stay hydrated, use sunscreen, wear a hat and take it slow.

The cheetah comes from 100 degree climate and does not share our heat issues. The African plains are treeless and cheetahs are lucky to find a sparce bush for shade.