Watch a Group of Zebras Miraculously Outrun 5 Sprinting Cheetahs

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It only takes three seconds for a cheetah to go from 0 to 60 mph — few cars can even do that. But in this incredible video from the Hassanein YouTube channel, a group of zebras somehow managed to outrun a coalition of five speedy cheetahs! How did they do it? And how common is it for a cheetah’s prey to get away?

Do Cheetahs Usually Hunt Zebras?

Cheetahs and zebras are both native to Africa’s savannas and grasslands and often share the same habitat. While the two commonly encounter each other in the wild, cheetahs don’t usually hunt zebras. Zebras are strong and powerful animals that live in large family groups, making them a risky target for a cheetah. Cheetahs are formidable hunters, but they only weigh 75 to 140 pounds, while zebras can weigh 380 to 950 pounds!

Cheetahs usually hunt smaller prey like impalas, gazelles, small antelopes, birds, and hares. While they might occasionally target a wildebeest calf or a young or injured zebra, this is rare and quite risky. Cheetahs must carefully manage their energy expenditure, as those impressive bursts of speed require a lot of power — which is especially challenging if they haven’t eaten recently. Even though cheetahs have a 58% success rate when hunting, it’s still not enough to justify the risk of chasing down a zebra.

Although many cheetahs go it alone, occasionally they do join forces to hunt. Seeing five cheetahs hunting as a team, however, is quite extraordinary. The video above offers a unique glimpse of the Tano Bora or Magnificent Five of Maa. These five male cheetahs have attracted quite a bit of attention, as males usually hunt solo or with just one other male. A group of five males hunting together is an impressive force, allowing them to target larger animals like topi antelopes, wildebeest, and even zebra.

Could a Zebra Outrun a Cheetah?

Could a zebra actually outrun a cheetah? It depends on the distance. Zebras can run pretty fast — up to 40 mph — but cheetahs are even faster, hitting high speeds of 70 to 80 mph! Cheetahs can go from 0 to 68 mph in 3 seconds, allowing them to speed up much faster than other animals. So, in a short-distance race, a cheetah would easily win.

However, cheetahs can’t maintain these high speeds for very long, usually for only about a quarter of a mile. Running at top speed causes their bodies to quickly overheat and they need lots of rest time between sprints. Zebras, on the other hand, can keep running at their top speed of 40 mph for over a mile! This means that if a cheetah doesn’t catch it within the first several seconds, the zebra will likely outrun the big cat and escape.

Unfortunately for the cheetahs in this video, speed isn’t everything. Due to a rather unorganized attack, the zebras escaped becoming the cats’ next meal.