Northeast African cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii

Irish Name: Síota oirthuaisceart na hAfraice
IUCN Status: Endangered

Known for their spotted coats and incredible speeds, Northeast African cheetahs are one of four widely accepted cheetah subspecies spread across Africa and Iran. Cheetahs as a whole are part of the cat family, and they are more closely related to pumas than lions and leopards. This also means that they cannot roar.

Northeast African cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii

Irish Name: Síota oirthuaisceart na hAfraice
IUCN Status: Endangered

Known for their spotted coats and incredible speeds, Northeast African cheetahs are one of four widely accepted cheetah subspecies spread across Africa and Iran. Cheetahs as a whole are part of the cat family, and they are more closely related to pumas than lions and leopards. This also means that they cannot roar.

General Information

Where do they live (Natural habitat)?

Northeast African cheetahs live in savannas, dry forests, shrublands and deserts in countries like Ethiopia and Somalia in Northeast Africa.

How long do they live?

Northeast African cheetahs can live to be 10-12 years old in the wild and 15-20 years old in human care

What do they eat?

Northeast African cheetahs are carnivores (meat-eaters). They mainly hunt antelopes, but they occasionally hunt warthogs, hares and birds as well.

Group name

Coalition

Zoo location

African Plains

Closest related species / sister species

The Northeast African cheetah is closely related to other cheetah subspecies, such as the Southeast African cheetah, the Asiatic cheetah and the Northwest African cheetah.

Animal class

Mammalia

Animal order

Carnivora

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Family Life

Northeast African cheetahs are generally solitary (live alone), but males tend to form small groups called coalitions. Female cheetahs raise their cubs for around 18 months before they leave their mothers to venture out on their own. While females will largely stay on their own, males tend to stick together or form new groups after leaving.

Baby name

Cub

Gestation (pregnancy) period

Approximately 93 days

Number of young at birth

2 - 6

Weight at birth

240 - 425g

Age at maturity

2 - 3 years

Adult size

In general, cheetahs are 70-91 cm in height (at the shoulder) and weigh 35-65 kg.

Fun facts

Cheetahs, including Northeast African cheetahs, are the fastest land animals on the planet. They can reach over 100 km/hr in a full sprint. However, they can only keep this up for around 300 metres.

Cheetahs have several features on their bodies that help them run incredibly fast. For example, their long tails help them to stay balanced and change direction spontaneously during a chase. Their long, slender bodies help them be faster. They also have semi-retractable claws that give them extra grip on the ground.

Female cheetahs will leave their cubs in dens for a few weeks after birth to protect them from predators (as they are too small to keep up with their mothers).

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Conservation

Endangered

The Northeast African cheetah is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Current population estimate

Approximately 260-590 individuals.

Threats

The main threats to Northeast African cheetahs include habitat loss, loss of their prey due to overgrazing by livestock animals and conflict with humans as cheetahs turn to hunting livestock to survive. The illegal wildlife trade for cheetah cubs is also a big threat.

What is Dublin Zoo doing?

Dublin Zoo is part of the European breeding programme for Northeast African cheetahs.

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FAQs

  • Where do Northeast African cheetahs live?

    Savannahs, dry forests, shrublands and deserts in countries such as Somalia and Ethiopia in Northeast Africa.

  • What do Northeast African cheetahs eat?

    They are carnivores (meat-eaters), mainly feeding on antelopes but occasionally hunting warthogs, hares and birds.

  • Why are Northeast African cheetahs classified as Endangered?

    Northeast African cheetahs are classified as Endangered due to threats like habitat loss, lack of prey, conflict with humans over livestock hunting and illegal wildlife trade for cheetah cubs.

  • How many Northeast African cheetahs are left in the world?

    There are approximately 260-590 Northeast African cheetahs left in the world, but scientists are unsure of the exact number as it is difficult to monitor cheetah numbers in Northeast Africa.

  • What is a group of Northeast African cheetahs called?

    A coalition.

  • What is a baby Northeast African called?

    A cub.

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