Thirsty Cheetah Chooses the Worst Possible Place to Take a Drink – And Pays the Price

This poor cheetah cub did not have the experience to know that danger lurks in the water and, sadly, now it is too late. That said, even an adult cheetah would have struggled with this situation as the speed of the croc’s attack was so fast. The reptile emerges from the water like lightning, grabs hold of the cub by the neck, and drags it back into the water. It’s a ferocious and shocking thing to witness and the safari guide narrating the clip is clearly moved by the cheetah’s fate. But crocodiles are superb predators and they must also be respected.

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Where Do Cheetahs Normally Live?

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have historically lived from Palestine through to central India and throughout Africa. Now, however, they are only present in 25 countries on the African continent. When it comes to habitat, they like to live in grasslands and deserts and they have even been seen climbing trees!

Some, but not all, males are territorial and mark their areas with urine or by clawing at trees. Males may also join together in a coalition to protect a chosen territory.

Which Animals Normally Hunt Cheetahs?

It’s clear from this clip that crocodiles hunt cheetahs if they get a chance and can be very successful at it. However, they are not the only animals to predate these gorgeous creatures. We know that lions, hyenas, and leopards also hunt cheetah cubs and may, in some cases, tackle an adult. It is not clear whether male cheetahs also kill cubs fathered by another male so that they can mate with the female.

Fascinating Cheetah Facts!

Did you know that humans have semi-domesticated cheetahs and used them for hunting? In ancient Egypt, Sumeria, and Assyria, our ancestors did this for over 4,000 years. Even more recently, European and Indian royalty would take hooded cheetahs to suitable locations for hunting. Once there, the hoods were removed and the big cats released when the game was in sight. If the cheetahs escaped (which they sometimes did) they were retrieved by a person on horseback who caught up with them after a few hundred yards.

Sadly, cheetahs are considered a pest in Namibia because they steal livestock. Therefore, they are hunted and killed to protect livelihoods. Cheetahs are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN database. There is very little genetic variation now in the species which leaves them highly vulnerable to disease or environmental disruption.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © nwdph/Shutterstock.com