Cheetah: Faster than most cars but low on stamina, struggles to protect its kill
The Hindu
PM Modi is set to release eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park today.
Did you know that a cheetah can clock 100 metres in just three seconds, faster than most cars, but cannot maintain its top speed for more than half a minute?
To put things in perspective, the world's fastest man and Olympic champion Usain Bolt's top speed is 44.72 kmph.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to release eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, here are some facts about the animal.
Delhi-based wildlife journalist and writer Kabir Sanjay says the animal is known for its stunning speed and not for stamina.
Also Read: Cargo plane carrying cheetahs from Namibia leaves for Gwalior
"The cheetah is a sprinter and not a marathon runner. Since it cannot sustain speed chases for long, it must catch the prey in 30 seconds or less.
"If the cheetah fails to make a kill quickly, it gives up. Hence, it has a dismal hunting success rate of 40 to 50 percent," he says.