Cheetahs are adapted for brief but intense bursts of speed. They have wiry bodies and small heads. Their coats are golden or yellowish, embellished with many small black spots, and their tails are long with a few black bands and sometimes a white tip. Cheetahs weigh between 40 and 65 kg, stands at about 90 cm tall, and measures 180 cm in length.
Historically cheetahs were found throughout Africa and Asia from South Africa to India. Nowadays, they are mainly confined to parts of eastern and southwestern Africa. In 1900, there were over 100,000 cheetahs across their historic range. Today, an estimated 7,000 cheetahs remain in the wild in Africa. The cheetah is listed as vulnerable on the ‘Red List of Threatened Animals’.
The photograph of the cheetah was taken at Basel Zoo yesterday.