New Study Aims to Uncover Secrets of Cheetahs’ Speed

in Wildlife 101 by Araneta&Tan — July 27, 2009 at 1:30 pm | 0 comments

Cheetah

Have you ever wondered how cheetahs can run so fast? Well now the Royal Veterinary College is carrying out a new study at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo on a group of North African cheetahs in an attempt to shed more light into their amazing running abilities. It seems strange that no one really knows yet just how they can reach such speeds, but hopefully after the trial we will have a better understanding about these incredible creatures.

Trying to work out how cheetahs run so fast is sure to have its challenges. The trials will involve tying a bit of chicken onto a string, using it to get the cheetahs’ attention, and then encouraging them to chase the meat by pulling it with a motor. The aim is to get the cheetahs to run past a high-speed camera which will catch their exact body movements for detailed analysis later on. The tracks that they run on also have scales to weigh the forces of each step to provide an even greater insight.

Cheetahs are one of nature’s master creations. It has been well documented that they can reach speeds of up to 64 mph, making them the fastest animals on land. However, some experts are now saying that they might be able to run even faster.

One of the best places to see cheetahs is in Tanzania. Tanzania has a number of national parks, but two of the best are the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater. Ngorogoro Crater is a vast crater that was formed during a massive volcanic eruption, and it is now widely revered as one of the natural wonders of the world.

Despite their popularity, cheetahs are also one of the most endangered species in Africa. For that reason there are many cheetah conservation schemes that you can get involved in which will allow you to see them in the wild as well as help their cause. A possible scheme could involve helping to count their numbers in a specific location, or you could even take pictures of them in the wild to help form a database and boost cheetah conservation efforts.

If you get involved in a project or just go on a safari, then you may want to get a snap of a cheetah running, which will certainly bring some challenges. If you don’t want to be disappointed then always make sure you take the right equipment for high-speed shots. However, most of the time they will just be sitting around so as long as you have a large zoom lens you should be alright.

Cheetahs are incredible creatures, and one of the highlights of any safari to Tanzania. The new study into their speed should provide a greater insight into these magnificent cats, and any cheetah fans will be keen to find out more about them. But if you want to see them in the wild then head to Tanzania, and hopefully you’ll be able to take home photos and memories that you’ll treasure forever.