The cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is a highly specialized predator built for speed rather than brute strength. Primarily inhabiting the grasslands and savannas of Africa, with a small, isolated population remaining in Iran, this feline has evolved an entirely solitary and athletic approach to securing its meals. Its survival depends on its ability to outmaneuver and overpower specific types of agile prey in open environments.
The Core Diet of Cheetahs
The cheetah’s diet is overwhelmingly composed of medium-sized ungulates, a preference dictated by its relatively slender build and reliance on speed. The most frequently hunted species, particularly in East Africa, is the Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii). Other components include impala (Aepyceros melampus) and springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) in Southern Africa, along with Grant’s gazelle (Gazella granti) in many regions.
This selection of prey is within a specific body mass range, typically between 23 and 56 kilograms (50 to 123 pounds), with the ideal weight centering around 36 kilograms. Animals in this size category provide a substantial meal yet are light enough for a cheetah to quickly subdue and drag to cover before larger predators arrive. The cheetah also frequently targets the calves and young of larger species, such as wildebeest or zebra, which lack the speed and defenses of the adults. Targeting young animals minimizes the risk of injury and ensures a manageable carcass size easier to protect from scavengers.
Hunting Methods and Strategy
The cheetah’s hunting sequence prioritizes efficiency and relies on its unparalleled acceleration. The hunt begins with visual scouting from a high vantage point, such as a termite mound, followed by a stealthy stalk using available vegetation for cover. The goal of the stalk is to get within 70 to 100 meters of the target before launching the explosive chase, conserving the limited energy needed for the pursuit.
The subsequent chase is an anaerobic burst of speed, leveraging the cheetah’s high concentration of fast-twitch muscle fibers. During the sprint, the cheetah uses its long, muscular tail as a rudder to maintain balance and make sharp turns, mirroring the evasive maneuvers of its prey. This high-energy pursuit is necessarily short, rarely exceeding one minute, as the cat quickly overheats and depletes its oxygen supply.
If the cheetah closes the distance, the takedown is initiated by using the curved, non-retractable dewclaw on its foreleg to hook the prey’s flank or hind leg, tripping it mid-stride. Once the animal is on the ground, the cheetah secures a prolonged suffocating bite to the throat. This technique is necessary because its teeth are shorter than those of other large cats and cannot deliver a quick, crushing kill bite. The animal remains exhausted after the kill, often resting for several minutes to recover before dragging the carcass to a sheltered spot, a vulnerability that frequently leads to the loss of the kill to kleptoparasites like hyenas and lions.
Opportunistic and Regional Dietary Variations
While medium-sized antelopes form the foundation of the cheetah’s diet, the cat is an opportunistic hunter, and its menu shifts based on local conditions and social structure. When primary prey is scarce, cheetahs will readily consume smaller animals, including Cape hares, small mammals, and various birds like young ostriches and game fowl. Studies have documented the consumption of species not typically associated with their diet, such as rock hyrax, yellow baboons, and vervet monkeys.
The social structure of the cheetah impacts prey selection. Solitary females are generally limited to lighter antelope species. Male cheetahs often form permanent coalitions, and this group dynamic allows them to occasionally target animals significantly larger than a single cat could handle. Although rare, these coalitions have successfully hunted larger adult prey, such as adult zebra or larger antelopes, pushing the upper limit of accessible prey mass to around 135 kilograms. Regional variations also exist; for example, cheetahs in parts of Zambia may favor puku, while those in the southern Kalahari often rely heavily on springbok.