What makes cheetahs good hunters

Studies have also shown that these species have improved hunting success on darker nights. Avoiding overlapping hunting times reduces the chances of competition with other predators and increases the chances that the cheetahs will have a successful outcome. Studies have found that kleptoparasitism on cheetah catches is more common at night than during the day. This results in cheetahs having shorter feeding bouts and thus less food.

Hunting during the day reduces the chances of having their catch stolen. While avoiding nocturnal hunting has its advantages, cheetahs must also avoid the extreme heat of diurnal hunting. Studies on the body heat of cheetahs have shown that their temperatures spike following a hunt, as they have exerted themselves during their high-speed chase. This is very tricky business since the hoofed animals cheetahs hunt live in herds which are on constant watch for any approaching danger.

So cheetahs need to use camouflage AND speed to catch their prey. You might think that occupying this specialized niche guarantees all cheetahs a meal. But killing prey and keeping it are two different issues.

Scientists who have studied the behavior of predators in Southern Africa have documented a hierarchy among meat eaters that works to the cheetahs' disadvantage. Due to their size and build, cheetahs are submissive and shy animals that are easily chased from their kill. So, after a huge, energy-depleting burst of speed and a successful kill that only happens one out of every ten tries, the meal that awaits them on the African plains can be grabbed right out from under their noses by competing predators such as lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, brown hyenas, and wild dogs.

Even jackals can benefit once hyenas have chased off the cheetah. The issue facing wildlife everywhere is: Can people learn to live successfully with nature? Rare are the places, as in Namibia in Southwest Africa , where cattle and sheep ranchers are experimenting with techniques that will keep the predators hunting wild prey and not their livestock. Observing things such as cheetah hunting strategy here in the wild, is something extremely special.

They will often use these short bursts of speed when stalking their prey to make a kill. When running, cheetah use their tail to steer, like a rudder for a boat. Cheetah can cover more than 7 meters in one stride and more than 25 meters in a second. Go Further. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city.

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