The Cheetah: A True Survivor

Paper Summary:

In this paper the author looks at the life and history of the cheetah, considered to be one of the fastest and most powerful animals on earth. The author examines information derived from fossils showing that the modern day cheetah is not far genetically, from its ancestor. The paper also mentions loss of habitat, poaching, high infant mortality rates, and less prey available as contributors to killing off the cheetah. But the main contributor to the cheetah's diminishing profile is due to humans hunting them. Despite all of these elements against it, the cheetah has still survived. In conclusion the author points out that in order for the cheetah not to completely disappear, mankind needs to be a bit more thoughtful in its treatment towards the animal.

From the Paper:

"One other interesting twist affects the cheetah's attempts to outlast the opposition. A relatively new mutation appears to have occurred in the species. Discovered in Zimbabwe in 1926, the King cheetah was first thought to be another subspecies , but is now recognized as a new mutation. The first photographic evidence of this "new" cheetah was taken in Kruger National Park in 1974. The markings of the King cheetah are larger and the spots are connected in a blotchy pattern, as opposed to the smaller, distinct spots of the traditional cheetah. It's believed that the King cheetah's markings are the result of a recessive gene. Since the two cheetahs are of the same species, they can interbreed and produce fertile cubs of both types."

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