The cheetah, known as the fastest land animal, is a carnivore adapted for speed. Capable of reaching over 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph) in short bursts, its slender build, long legs, flexible spine, and semi-retractable claws contribute to its acceleration and agility. While efficient hunters, their physical specialization for speed makes them less equipped for direct confrontation with larger predators. This vulnerability shapes their survival strategies within the African ecosystem.
Predators of Adult Cheetahs
Adult cheetahs, despite their incredible speed, face threats from several larger carnivores. Lions and spotted hyenas are primary dangers. These animals are considerably larger and more powerful, making confrontations often fatal for cheetahs.
Lions, as apex predators, are a major threat. While primarily hunting ungulates, lions are opportunistic and will kill adult cheetahs to eliminate competition. A male lion can weigh over 250 kilograms (550 pounds), dwarfing a cheetah (21-65 kilograms or 46-143 pounds), making a physical contest heavily skewed. Lions also hunt in groups, further disadvantaging a solitary cheetah.
Spotted hyenas also pose a substantial threat, particularly in stealing kills. Though a single hyena might be similar in weight, hyenas have a more robust build, strong jaws, and often hunt in clans, allowing them to overpower a cheetah and take its prey. Cheetahs often yield their kills to hyenas to avoid injury, as any significant injury, especially to their legs, can be life-threatening for an animal reliant on speed. Leopards, while less common, are stealthy and powerful, occasionally ambushing and killing adult cheetahs.
Threats to Cheetah Cubs
Cheetah cubs are highly vulnerable to predation, leading to an exceptionally high mortality rate. Up to 90% of cubs do not survive to adulthood, with predation being the leading cause. This vulnerability stems from their small size, helplessness at birth, and mothers often leaving them hidden while hunting.
A wide array of predators targets cheetah cubs, including many large carnivores that threaten adults. Lions, hyenas, and leopards are significant predators of young cheetahs. Lions are particularly impactful, sometimes responsible for a large percentage of cub deaths, often killing cubs to reduce future competition rather than for food. Leopards, known for their stealth, can easily locate and kill cubs, especially when mothers are away. Hyenas are also opportunistic predators of cubs.
Beyond these major threats, other opportunistic hunters pose dangers. African wild dogs kill cheetah cubs, though direct confrontations with adults are less common. Large birds of prey, such as martial eagles, can snatch young cubs. Snakes, like large pythons, may prey on very young cubs if encountered. The high predation rate on cubs limits cheetah population growth, particularly in protected areas with higher densities of other large predators.