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Pepo

Pepo
Name:
Pepo
Cheetah:
Male
Subspecies:
Acinonyx jubatus jubatus
D.O.B:
9 Apr 2001

Profile

Peop is enjoying his retirement in Kent, having fathered ten off spring it is unlikely he will be required to breed again so he can just relax, enjoy the sun whilst watching the trains pass our site.

He weighs in at a good 47 Kg (approx 94 lbs) and eats on average between 4 - 5 Kg (8 – 10 lbs) of meat three times a week, with the occasional extra chicken or rabbit.

Pepo is tall and sleek and is a good specimen of a cheetah. He is happiest lazing around in his enclosure waiting for the next meal to appear over the fence. With his chirping and the occasional chasing of a "diesel train", Pepo is a placid, friendly cat who knows how to pose for the cameras.

Facts

Cheetahs are listed as vulnerable and it is estimated that there are 10,000 remaining in the wild (IUCN survey 2008) with the largest population (3,000) being found in Namibia.

Cheetahs are smaller than the other big cats, measuring on average 4 feet in body length with 28 inch tails and weighing on average 80 – 140 lbs.

They have spotted coats, small head and ears and a distinctive "tear drop" marking from the corner of their eye down the side of their faces.

They are often referred to as the "Greyhound" of cats with their lean bodies and long legs and reaching speeds of 70 mph they are the worlds fastest land animal. Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 – 40 mph within 3 strides and reach top speed within seconds, but can only maintain this speed for short distances of 400 – 600 yards. They use their tails as stabiliser or rudder and have short non retractable claws that help grip the ground for traction when running.

Once found throughout much of African and Asia they are now confined to parts of Eastern, South & South-Western Africa with a small population in Northern Iran.

Cheetahs are found on open and partially open savannas.

They rely on burst of speed to catch swift prey like gazelles, wildebeest calves, impalas and smaller hoofed animals. They must eat quickly to avoid losing their kill to other carnivores.

Current threats

The Cheetahs of the African Savannas face a number of threats – some old and some new.

  • The primary threat to cheetahs is loss of habitat due to human settlement and agriculture. They are also persecuted as livestock predators and in the past for zoos, the pet trade and for pelts.
  • Its young are often killed by lions, and in some areas only one in 20 is likely to survive to adulthood.
  • Additional threats to the cheetah's survival are low genetic variability and sperm abnormalities, both of which are due to inbreeding. In the ancient past, the wild cheetah population was reduced to only a handful of individuals as many were taken for hunting or pets by man. These cats managed to survive and prosper, but as a result their descendants have a much smaller gene pool than usual. Lack of genetic variability can make cheetah populations more vulnerable to infectious disease, and sperm abnormalities result in fewer offspring.
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