International Cheetah Day 2024

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the entire world, as well as the eleventh fastest animal overall. They’re also a highly beloved species, popular for their rapid acceleration, friendly faces, and unique patterns. Continue reading below to learn more about International Cheetah Day, a day spent recognizing the fastest feline on Earth.

Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in! 

When Is International Cheetah Day?

For some animal holidays, they don’t fall on the same day each year. International Vulture Awareness Day, for instance, falls on the first Saturday in September each year rather than a specific day. This is not the case for International Cheetah Day, though.

Every year, International Cheetah Day falls on December 4th.

History of International Cheetah Day

The story of how Intneration Cheetah Day came to be is a heartwarming tale that takes us back to 1977. In this year, Dr. Laurie Marker, an American zoologist, visited Namibia with a special guest. This guest happened to be Khayam, a cheetah that Marker had raised from a cub at Wildlife Safari in Oregon.

Marker and Khayam’s visit wasn’t for pleasure, however, but rather for an experiment to better understand if captive cheetahs could be taught to once again survive the wild. The experiment was a success, but it brought with it new concerns. While in Namibia, Marker realized that livestock owners posed a significant threat to cheetah populations. Because they worried about what impact cheetahs would have on their animals, livestock owners often chose to exterminate these cats when possible. 

Because of the threat posed to wild cheetah populations, Marker knew that a change was necessary. As a result, in the 1990s, she founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Part of her mission was to help educate the locals on wildlife issues and the importance of preservation. To pair with this, she also sought to create an international day to recognize the amazing species that is the cheetah. To do so, Marker chose Khayam’s birthday as a way to preserve his memory.

Since 2010, International Cheetah Day has been celebrated on December 4th, helping to educate the world about cheetahs and their race against extinction. 

What Happens on a Global or International Animal Day?

International animal awareness days are designed to spark conversation about a certain species and raise awareness about different related topics. This can include the importance of that species, threats to their population, and similar conversations.

Different places may choose to celebrate an International Animal Day in different ways. Certain zoological parks may offer educational programs or events, while other places may provide an option for donations. 

How to Participate in International Cheetah Day

Although International Cheetah Day may not be a typical holiday in the way you are used to, there are several different ways to get involved.

One of the main ways people participate in International Cheetah Day is through donations. Many foundations or organizations will set up fundraisers in the days surrounding International Cheetah Day to help collect funds. These funds can serve a variety of purposes, from helping to care for captive cheetahs to creating new education programs to providing essential resources to help better understand the species. 

There are free ways to get involved, too, though! On International Cheetah Day, you can also become an ambassador for the species. This can be as simple as telling your loved ones some fun cheetah facts and why they are an important species. You can also share resources about preservation and protecting this species.

Species Profile: Cheetah

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a carnivorous mammal found throughout Africa and in parts of Asia. The fastest land animal, they can reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. However, they lack the endurance to maintain these top speeds for long periods of time. Regardless of their brevity, their speed allows them to roam their territories as top predators. 

Cheetahs can be easily identified. Although they sport a coat covered in spots like other species, they have a distinct face. Their ears are small and round, and they have a black “tear-stain” marking to help protect their eyes from the sun. 

This species is unable to roar. Instead, it is a purring cat variety, much like the common housecat! They were once in abundance throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. Now, however, due to loss of habitat and hunting, their numbers are on the decline. In today’s time, wild cheetahs can only be found in Africa and Iran.