Ecology

Cheetah are habitat generalists and can be found in many different habitats ranging from open plains, woodland, savannah to thick bush. Habitat preference is often determined by abundance of prey and a lack of other large predators. Cheetahs tend to avoid areas with high prey densities, probably to avoid large predators like lions and hyenas that can be found in these areas. Cheetah males are often social and hold small territories while cheetah females are solitary and have large home ranges. Sizes of territories and home ranges can vary greatly (37-3000 km2). The males scent-mark their territory and defend it against intruders, whereas females tolerate other cheetahs in their home range that often overlaps with home ranges of other cheetahs.

                Females move across several male territories annually and are highly promiscuous, which can result in females giving birth to a litter with cubs from different fathers. Cheetah males can often be found in groups of two to three, these are usually brothers that have formed a coalition that will stay together for life. Adult cheetahs mostly kill medium sized antelopes (15-30 kg) but small animals like birds and hares are also an important part of the diet.

                In the wild, cheetahs become approximately 11-12 years old. When the females are two years old they can give birth to their first litter. Mating occurs throughout the year, the gestation period is 90-95 days and litter sizes range from 3 to 5 cubs. Females raise their cubs one their own. The cheetah cubs are born with their black spots and a Mohawk type mane that is shed as the cheetahs grow older. During the first two months of their life the cheetah mother leaves her cubs behind in a lair when she goes out to hunt. Cheetah cubs are often killed by larger predators such as lions and spotted hyenas and leopards and cub mortality can be as high as 95%. The cheetah mothers are not able to defend their cubs against these larger predators.

                The cubs stay with their mother for more than a year, during this time the mother teaches the cubs how to hunt and avoid other predators. When the cubs are between 18 and 22 months old the mother leaves them behind. The cubs usually stay together in sibling groups for several months before the males and females go their separate ways. Brothers stay together in a male coalition, while sisters leave the group to establish their own home range.

                Females are mature at the age of 24 months while males are mature around 12 months, although males do not usually mate before they are 3 years old. The cheetahs social system with solitary females and social males is unique among cats.