where do cheetahs live?

Answers to where do cheetahs live

Cheetahs are found in southern and eastern Africa with Namibia having the largest population of about 2,500.  Their range is confined to narrowing islands of savanna and similar vegetation zones south of the Sahara.  A relic population of a few hundred may exist in the northern Arabian Peninsula and Northwest Afghanistan.

They do not inhabit forests, but their habitat varies widely.  Cheetahs can be found in savannas, open woodlands and in the semi-desert areas.  They make ready use of any elevation, such as a termite mounds, kopjes or acacia trees which dot the landscape, in order to get a good view of its territory and potential meal.

The cheetah originated about 4 million years ago, long before other big cats and was once common throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.  They disappeared about 10,000 years ago from North America when major climatic changes took place.  Fossil evidence has been found in what is now Texas, Nevada and Wyoming. The cheetah also disappeared from Europe and most of those in Asia and Africa also vanished.  The present populations are derived from inbreeding by those very few surviving and closely related animals.  This has led to the present state cheetah genetics: every one is nearly identical.

Cheetahs are easily tamed.  Sumerians were the first people known to tame cheetah and Egyptians deified them.  Throughout history they have been kept in captivity.  Akbar the Great of India kept 9,000 cheetah in his 45 year reign (1555-1600 AD).  Despite his efforts to breed them, only one litter was produced during that time.  They have been used by the Pharaohs, royalty and even by the emperor Charlemagne for hunting and as symbols of nobility.

Cheetahs are big cats, found primarily on the African Plains. They once roamed throughout Asia and Africa. Today only about 150 remain in Iran, and about 12,000 cheetahs live in sub-Saharan African grasslands. They are endangered because of decline in prey, loss of habitat, poaching, and being shot as a livestock predator.

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