Northeast African cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii
Seen by the oracleIts power
From zero to a hundred kilometres an hour in three seconds, with claws that never pull back in, like running spikes.
Estimated wild population
About 260 to 590 adults
Trend
Declining
Range
Central Africa / Northeast Africa
Main threat
Illegal wildlife trade (the biggest problem), habitat loss, conflicts with livestock farmers
Meet it
It really exists. It is waiting for you at the Parc Animalier d’Auvergne.
This subspecies of cheetah is suited to the dry lands of central and northeast Africa. It is the fastest hunter in the world, reaching 110 km/h over a sprint of 200 to 300 metres. Unlike the big cats, it hunts by day: it spots its prey from a high point, then chases it, speeding up little by little. Its light build (long body, thin legs, and a long tail for balance) makes it an amazing sprinter but a weak fighter against lions and hyenas. It has almost disappeared from Sudan. The most urgent threat is the illegal trade in cheetah cubs, especially to Gulf countries where they are kept as pets.
What the Park does
Cheetah Conservation Fund, EEP programme, anti-poaching patrols