Cheetah in morning rain, 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 helps them move quickly.

In early Egyptian mythology, Mafdet, the 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.