Cheetahs are still the fastest land mammals, regularly clocking speeds of up to 60 m.p.h. But what a recent study using accelerometer tacking collars has shown is that it is not the cheetah’s base speed that they rely on for catching prey, but their unmatched deceleration, maneuverability, and turning radius. A Cheetah’s secret weapon is ultimately their agility, and this matched with their speed creates the perfect hunter.
Dr. Alan Wilson, a member of London University who has been leading this particular study of the big cats in Botswana, states that a cheetah is “really the all-around athlete, the all-around pursuit predator.” This is of course why they are my favorite big cat.
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