Asiatic Cheetah: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Hunters · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. No land animal on Earth runs faster than the cheetah. The Asiatic cheetah is a subspecies now found only in Iran.
2. One female Asiatic cheetah was recorded in two protected areas about 150 km apart, with a railway and two highways in between.
3. Asiatic cheetahs hunt medium-sized plant-eaters such as goitered gazelles, wild sheep, wild goats and cape hares.
4. After a hunt, a cheetah stays tense and watchful, because another predator could easily steal its meal.
5. In Iran, Asiatic cheetahs seem to give birth all year round, to one to four cubs.

The quiz

1. What title does the cheetah hold?

• Biggest wild cat
• Fastest land animal (correct)
• Best climber
• Longest-lived cat

No land animal on Earth runs faster than the cheetah.

2. How far apart were the two protected areas where one female was recorded?

• About 15 km
• About 50 km
• About 500 km
• About 150 km (correct)

She was recorded in two protected areas about 150 km apart.

3. What does the Asiatic cheetah hunt?

• Birds and fish
• Zebras and buffalo
• Medium-sized plant-eaters (correct)
• Insects and lizards

It preys on medium-sized plant-eaters such as gazelles, wild sheep, wild goats and cape hares.

4. Why is a cheetah stressed after a hunt?

• Another predator may take its kill (correct)
• It has lost its way
• Its cubs are lost
• It is injured

Another predator could easily steal its meal, so it stays tense and watchful.

5. How many cubs do Asiatic cheetahs in Iran seem to have?

• Always one
• One to four (correct)
• Six to eight
• Exactly ten

They seem to give birth all year round, to one to four cubs.

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