Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus)
Blink and you will miss me! I'm the fastest land mammal on the planet. I go from 0-60 km/h in three strides and within a few seconds I reach my top speed of 110 km/h. Built for speed, I have a long, lithe body, an incredibly flexible spine, powerful heart and strong arteries. I'm the only big cat with blunt claws, and they don't retract, which means they are always out and ready for action at a moment's notice. When I'm running, my claws grip the ground like the spikes on sprinters' running shoes to give me extra speed and stability. My pads are hard and oval, like a greyhound's, to help me make sharp turns at speed.
I'm the oldest species of big cat still in existence. Throughout history my speed and elegance has attracted the attention of powerful humans. I was often kept as a prized hunting pet in the courts of ancient kings and emperors, and was given the status of a 'god' by the pharaohs of Egypt. My charms are not limited to my looks, I'm the only big cat that will purr when content (and it's pretty loud so you wouldn't miss it) and I make gentle chirping sounds to my babies (called cubs).
Yet despite all my speed, beauty and charm I 'm now critically endangered. I used to be widespread across Africa and Asia, but now there are some of us left in Iran and the rest of us are found in a few countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
You see, we need a lot of land to survive in with a good supply of prey. Although we are fantastic hunters we are not good fighters, and will run away rather than confront a more aggressive predator who wants our lunch. So as our spaces to live in get smaller and we come more in contact with other more aggressive predators and human habitation, we find it harder to survive. The problem is made harder by the fact that we don't breed well, not even in the wild, and in captivity successful breeding is rare.
How can you help? By buying the fantastic Animal Tails cheetah design clothes which show me performing my amazing strides. They are made from 100% certified organic cotton and ethically manufactured so they don't damage the environment or lives of people who make them. Also Animal Tails tells my story and gives money to organisations that work to protect me and other endangered species.
Thank you
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