It’s no secret that a cheetah’s superpower is its unbeatable speed. But did you know that this is also its downfall? Designed for agility, cheetahs can disappear into the distance at speeds up to 130 kilometres per hour. The naturally shy creatures will go to extreme lengths to avoid confrontation. When crossing paths with other predators, they often abandon their kill and flee from a fight. Their inability to defend themselves means that they prefer to live in close proximity to humans and livestock. Today, almost 80% of the population live outside of protected areas, rendering them vulnerable to poaching. For this species to survive, we must join the race to save them.
Up Next in Season 1
-
Hippos
For a land mammal, hippos spend a significantly long time submerged in water – 16 hours a day to be precise. They weigh up to 1 800 kilograms and are unable to swim, so it might seem easier to stay on land. Yet hippos are considered amphibious, and even give birth to their young underwater.
Their... -
Leopards
No safari is complete without spotting a leopard lounging atop a tree branch. Climbing is a tactical move to keep themselves high on the food chain. Leopards carry prey up to three times their body weight, dragging them metres above the ground with effortless agility. In the trees, they can feast...
-
Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are highly social animals, native to the tropical forests of central and west Africa. They’re arguably the world's smartest animal, and share over 98% of their genetic blueprint with humans. Because of this, many of them were plucked out of their tropical havens and placed in laborato...