Cheetah, Ndutu Plains, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
© Paul Souders/Getty Image
Purr-fect speed. Cheetah in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Blink and you'll miss it! The fastest mammal in the world, the cheetah, seen here in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is one of Tanzania's iconic big cats. Cheetahs inhabit diverse landscapes, ranging from the Serengeti grasslands to the arid expanses of the Sahara. They have long tails, elongated legs and a slender build that help them move quickly.
In early Egyptian mythology, Mafdet, goddess of justice, would often be depicted as a woman wearing the head of a cheetah. Ancient Egyptians also believed that cheetahs carried away the spirits of departed pharaohs. Despite their mythical importance in human history, cheetahs face threats from habitat loss, human conflict, poaching and diseases due to low genetic diversity among individuals, leaving their global population vulnerable. Let's commit to protecting their habitat and preserving their legacy for generations to come.
Related Images
Lion cubs hiding in tall grass in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana
Red fox in the Netherlands
South American tapir calf trots through the grass
Gerenuk in Tsavo National Park, Kenya
Zebras in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Mother cheetah and her cub in the Maasai Mara nature reserve, Kenya
Male African lion and cub in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in southern Africa
Clouded leopard
Bing Today Images
