Acinonyx jubatus
THE CHEETAH
Sanskrit Origin - citrakaya or "mottled body"

 

Cats of all types have always held a special place in my heart, from the tiniest of kittens to the grandest of lions.  As I grew older, however, I started to lean towards a favorite: the cheetah.  I am not certain what first drew me to this particular cat.  What I am certain of, though, is that any time I see one of these magnificent animals in action, I am overwhelmed by a sense of awe and fascination.

Once spreading from Inida and the Middle, through the southern tip of Africa, the cheetah's range has dwindled drastically. With only about 200 individuals left in remote areas of the Middle East, the Asian Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatis venaticus) is nearly extinct. 

While the African cheetah population is somewhat larger than its Asian counterpart, it too is wilting under the pressures from human encroachment and exploitation.  For example, boasting the world's largest cheetah population (2000 to 3000 cats), the cheetahs of Nambia are pitted against the commercial farmers for survival.  To protect their livestock and for trophy hunting, the farmers both trap the cats through various means and shoot to kill.