Cheetahs are members of a big cat family, which includes tigers, jaguars, lions, leopards, snow leopards and pumas.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on the planet. They can reach speed up to 100 kilometers per hour in just a few seconds. It allows them to successfully hunt fast moving animals such as gazelles.

Thanks to their elongated body and long powerful legs, cheetahs can cover distances of up to 7 meters in one jump. They have a very flexible spine which allows them to turn in the air at high speed without losing the balance.

Cheetahs live in Africa and Asia. They can be found in North Africa, the Sahel (the region between the Sahara desert and the Sudanese savanna), East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) and Southern Africa (Namibia and Botswana). A small population of Asiatic cheetahs also lives in Iran, where the animals are critically endangered.

These wild cats lead a nomadic lifestyle. They have home territories or ranges — expanses of grasslands, savannahs, forestlands and mountainous areas up to 1000 square kilometers in which they regularly roam. When not hunting, they prefer to sleep or rest in tall grass, under trees, or on rocky cliffs.

Cheetahs use a close pursuit strategy when hunting. They sneak up on their prey for a short distance and then make a sharp leap to grab it. The animal uses its paws to knock prey to the ground and then strangle it with a bite to the neck.

These sprinters usually hunt alone, but may occasionally cooperate with other cheetahs, especially when hunting for a large prey. 

Despite the fact that cheetahs are dangerous predators, their numbers are under threat of extinction. Now this animal species is classified as "vulnerable". Over the past 18 years, the number of adults has decreased by more than 70%. One of the main problems is the loss of natural habitats due to the destruction of their natural environment.

Many organizations for nature protection work to defend these animals and their habitats. This includes the creation of nature reserves and protected areas, as well as the fight against the illegal wild animals trade.