Wildlife Guide · Kenya & Tanzania

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

The fastest land animal on Earth, racing toward a fragile future.

IUCN: Vulnerable

An adult cheetah with a slender, spotted golden coat and distinctive black tear-mark stripes, standing alert on the African savanna.

Image: Source: Wikimedia Commons via Wikipedia “Cheetah” — verify license before production

In brief

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest land animal, reaching roughly 100-120 km/h (about 60-75 mph) in short bursts, and is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with the Asiatic cheetah in Iran listed as Critically Endangered.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated June 2026

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the world's fastest land animal, built for explosive bursts of speed across open grassland. With a lean frame, a long muscular tail for balance, and a flexible spine, it can accelerate faster than most sports cars to chase down gazelles and other small ungulates. Once widespread across Africa and southwest Asia, the cheetah has lost most of its historic range and is now classified as Vulnerable, with only a few thousand mature individuals remaining in the wild. The Asiatic cheetah, surviving only in Iran, is among the rarest cats on the planet and is Critically Endangered. This guide covers the cheetah's speed, biology, diet, conservation status, and the threats it faces.

~100-120 km/h

Top speed in short bursts

~6,500

Mature individuals remaining

Vulnerable

Global IUCN Red List status

Fewer than 50

Asiatic cheetahs left in Iran

Figures sourced from IUCN Red List: Acinonyx jubatus (Cheetah), CITES: Cheetahs, Wikipedia: Cheetah and other references on this page.

Cheetah: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Cheetah
Lifespan	About 10-12 years in the wild
Weight	21-65 kg (46-143 lb)
Size	Head and body 1.1-1.5 m (3.7-4.9 ft)
Diet	Carnivore (gazelles, impala, springbok, hares)
Gestation	About 3 months
Young	Usually 3-4 cubs per litter
Baby name	Cub
Group name	Coalition (males)
Top speed	~100-120 km/h (about 60-75 mph) in short bursts
CITES	Appendix I

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Cheetah
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Carnivora
Family	Felidae
Genus	Acinonyx
Species	Acinonyx jubatus

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Population: Approximately 6,500 mature individuals
Trend: Decreasing
Assessed: 2021 (published 2022)
CITES: Appendix I

The Asiatic cheetah subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), restricted to Iran, is Critically Endangered with fewer than 50 individuals estimated to remain.

Did you know?

A cheetah's tear-mark stripes, the black lines running from its eyes to its mouth, are thought to cut glare from the sun and help it focus on distant prey, much like the eye-black athletes wear.

Key Facts: Cheetah

The cheetah is the fastest land animal, sprinting at roughly 100-120 km/h (about 60-75 mph) in short bursts of a few hundred metres.
It is built for speed: a lightweight body, long legs, a flexible spine, semi-retractable claws for grip, and a long tail that acts as a rudder.
Globally the cheetah is listed as Vulnerable, with around 6,500 mature individuals estimated in the wild.
The Asiatic cheetah survives only in Iran, where fewer than 50 are thought to remain, making it Critically Endangered.
Main threats include habitat loss, conflict with farmers, loss of prey, illegal cub trafficking, and high cub mortality.
Cheetahs are listed on CITES Appendix I, the highest level of international trade protection.

How fast is a cheetah and how does it hunt?

The cheetah is the fastest land animal, capable of roughly 100-120 km/h (about 60-75 mph) in short bursts, with the highest reliably recorded speed around 104 km/h (65 mph). It can accelerate from a standstill to top speed in just a few seconds, but sustains a full sprint only for a few hundred metres before overheating. Everything about its anatomy serves the chase: a small head, deep chest, long thin legs, an extremely flexible spine that lengthens each stride, blunt semi-retractable claws that grip like running spikes, and a long tail used as a counterbalance for sharp turns. Cheetahs hunt by day, relying on eyesight to spot prey, then stalk close before unleashing a high-speed dash and tripping the animal with a swipe of the paw.

What does a cheetah eat and how does it live?

Cheetahs are carnivores that target small to medium ungulates, typically prey weighing 20-60 kg such as gazelles, impala, and springbok, along with hares and the young of larger species. Because they are lighter than lions and leopards, cheetahs often lose their kills to these stronger competitors and to hyenas, so they eat quickly after a hunt. Females are largely solitary and raise cubs alone, while males sometimes form small bonded groups called coalitions, often brothers, that defend a territory together. Cubs are born blind and helpless after a gestation of about three months, with litters commonly of three to four, though cub mortality in the wild is very high.

Why is the cheetah endangered?

The cheetah has disappeared from the great majority of its historic range and now occupies only a fraction of it. The IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable, with the global population estimated at around 6,500 mature individuals and declining. Key pressures include the loss and fragmentation of open habitat, declining wild prey, conflict with livestock farmers, vehicle collisions, and the illegal trafficking of cubs for the exotic pet trade. Because cheetahs range widely and live at low densities, much of the remaining population exists outside protected areas, which makes them especially exposed. The Asiatic cheetah subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), now confined to Iran's central drylands with fewer than 50 individuals, is Critically Endangered and at serious risk of extinction.

African cheetah vs Asiatic cheetah

Feature	African cheetah	Asiatic cheetah
Range	Eastern and southern Africa	Central Iran only
IUCN status	Vulnerable	Critically Endangered
Estimated number	Several thousand	Fewer than 50
Build	Larger, longer-legged	Smaller, thicker coat, more powerful neck
Spots	Larger, more spaced	Smaller, denser spots

What WARN Does

The cheetah lives outside the countries where the World Animal Rescue Network currently funds on-the-ground projects. WARN does not fund cheetah field work, and at our current launch stage we are honest about that scope. This guide is educational and search-focused content: it exists to build global awareness of an iconic, threatened species and to support WARN's broader mission of protecting wildlife and the habitats they depend on. The conservation challenges cheetahs face, including habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade, are the same forces WARN tackles in the regions where it does operate.

The cheetah falls outside the regions WARN currently funds, but the threats it faces, habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade, are exactly what your support helps us fight where we do work. Backing WARN's habitat protection efforts strengthens a global mission to keep wild places intact for vulnerable species everywhere.

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How does the cheetah compare?

Leopard vs Cheetah →Cheetah vs Leopard and Jaguar →Cheetah vs Jaguar →

How can I help save the cheetah?

There are three practical things that make a real difference for the cheetah — and the first is the one that funds everything else.

Fund frontline rescue

Back the partner-led teams, veterinary care and protection that reach cheetahs where the need is greatest — WARN channels donations straight to that work.

Ease the pressures

Avoid the wildlife trade and souvenirs, never buy wild animals as pets, and choose sustainable, habitat-friendly products — the threats behind the cheetah's decline fall when demand does.

Spread the word

Share accurate, sourced information about the cheetah. Wider awareness is what turns concern into lasting protection.

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Cheetah: Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help save the cheetah?

The most effective way to help the cheetah is to fund the frontline rescue and habitat protection that keeps the species alive — WARN channels donations to partner-led teams working where the need is greatest. You can also ease the pressures behind its decline by avoiding the wildlife trade and souvenirs, never buying wild animals as pets, and choosing sustainable products, and by sharing accurate information to build wider support. See the ways to help below, or support WARN's Support Habitat Protection.

How fast can a cheetah run?

A cheetah can reach roughly 100-120 km/h (about 60-75 mph) in short bursts, making it the fastest land animal. The highest reliably recorded speed is around 104 km/h (65 mph). It can only sustain a full sprint for a few hundred metres before it has to stop and cool down.

Is the cheetah endangered?

The cheetah is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with about 6,500 mature individuals estimated worldwide and the population declining. The Asiatic cheetah, found only in Iran, is Critically Endangered, with fewer than 50 thought to remain.

Where do cheetahs live?

Most wild cheetahs live in eastern and southern Africa, including countries such as Kenya and Tanzania, where they favour open grasslands and savannas. A tiny, separate population of Asiatic cheetahs survives in the arid landscapes of central Iran.

What do cheetahs eat?

Cheetahs are carnivores that mainly hunt small to medium ungulates weighing about 20-60 kg, such as gazelles, impala, and springbok, plus hares and the young of larger animals. They hunt by day and rely on speed rather than strength to catch prey.

What is a baby cheetah called?

A baby cheetah is called a cub. Litters usually contain three to four cubs, which are born blind and depend entirely on their mother. Cub mortality is high in the wild because of predators such as lions and hyenas.

What is the difference between a cheetah and a leopard?

Cheetahs are slim and built for speed, with solid round spots and black tear-mark lines running from the eyes to the mouth. Leopards are more powerfully built, climb trees, and have rose-shaped markings called rosettes rather than solid spots. Cheetahs cannot fully retract their claws, while leopards can.

Are cheetahs dangerous?

Cheetahs are not usually dangerous to humans. They weigh 21–65 kg and are built for short sprints at roughly 100–120 km/h, not for fighting larger animals. Wild cheetahs typically flee from people. They pose far less risk than lions or leopards, though any wild predator should be treated with caution and distance.

How long do cheetahs live?

Cheetahs live about 10–12 years in the wild. High cub mortality from predators such as lions and hyenas limits how many reach adulthood. Their lean frame and dependence on open grassland prey mean that surviving a full decade already represents a successful life in the wild.

How big is a cheetah?

An adult cheetah's head and body measure about 1.1–1.5 m (3.7–4.9 ft), with a weight range of 21–65 kg (46–143 lb). Males are typically larger than females. This slim build helps them reach roughly 100–120 km/h in short bursts — lighter and more lightly built than leopards or lions.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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