Cheetahs are highly specialized predators in the African savanna, known for their exceptional speed. Their diet is exclusively carnivorous, a habit intertwined with their physical adaptations and hunting prowess. Their sleek bodies and powerful muscles are finely tuned to pursue and capture prey, relying on animal flesh for sustenance.
Primary Prey and Hunting Strategies
Cheetahs primarily target medium-sized hoofed animals, which typically weigh under 40 kilograms (88 pounds). Their preferred prey includes Thomson’s gazelles, impalas, and springboks. They also hunt the calves of larger ungulates like wildebeest and zebra, along with smaller animals such as hares and birds. Cheetahs are diurnal hunters, a strategy that helps them avoid competition with larger, nocturnal predators like lions and hyenas.
Their hunting strategy relies on explosive speed and a short chase. A cheetah will stalk its prey, getting within 70 to 100 meters (230-330 feet) before sprinting up to 110 kilometers per hour (68 miles per hour). The chase typically lasts about 20 seconds, covering an average distance of 170 meters (550 feet). During the pursuit, the cheetah uses its curved dewclaw to trip the prey. Once the animal is on the ground, the cheetah delivers a suffocating bite to the throat.
While adult cheetahs generally hunt alone, mothers will hunt with their cubs, teaching them hunting skills. Male cheetahs sometimes form coalitions, which can improve their success rates, especially for larger prey.
Dietary Habits and Water Needs
Cheetahs consume their kills immediately after a successful hunt. This rapid consumption helps them minimize the risk of losing their prey to larger predators such as lions and hyenas, which frequently steal their kills. Unlike many other African carnivores, cheetahs rarely scavenge on carrion; they prefer fresh meat and typically do not return to a kill once they have eaten. Their diet consists exclusively of meat, and they do not consume plant matter, though they might chew on grass for digestive issues.
The frequency of their meals varies depending on the size of the kill and whether they are feeding cubs. Lone adult cheetahs typically hunt and eat every two to five days. However, a female with cubs may hunt daily to provide enough sustenance for her young.
Cheetahs have adapted to arid environments by obtaining much of their necessary moisture from the body fluids of their prey. While they can go for several days without drinking, they will drink from water sources when available. An adult cheetah consumes approximately 2.8 kilograms (6.2 pounds) of meat per day on average. They can eat up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) in a single sitting, but this amount is uncommon for daily intake.