Cheetahs—the fastest land mammals on the planet—are incredible creatures. They’re able to reach speeds of up to 70 mph and can swim. The cheetahs name is derived from the Hindi word ‘chita,’ which means ‘spotted one.’
These big cats, while fearsome, do not have the ability to roar like a lion, but they can emit what’s known as a chirrup, possible the cutest noise you’ll ever hear a deadly cat make. These cats are not endangered—yet. But they are vulnerable. In fact, their numbers in the wild are so low that people concerned with conserving the species are pushing for them to be declared endangered.
What is the explanation for cheetahs being safer than other big cats? Well, cheetahs, unlike other big cats, are rather selective about the animals they hunt (such as small to medium-sized antelope species), and they kill their prey by tripping them and biting the neck. Cheetahs, which weigh around 100 pounds, do not possess the muscular bulk of other big cats and have smaller heads. They know their place in the predator hierarchy and do not bite off more than they can chew. They never want to attack humans, unlike some dogs.
Therefore, fears of cheetahs being dangerous beyond any other similar-sized animal with teeth are overblown. Below are some vintage snaps of old celebrities posing with their cheetahs:
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| Marian Nixon, 1925 |
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| Josephine Baker, ca. 1930s |
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| Joan Blondell, 1931 |
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| Katharine Hepburn, 1938 |
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| Countess Elvira de Flogny, 1939 |
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| Phyllis Gordon, 1939 |
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| Osa Johnson, 1949 |
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| Bunny Yeager and Bettie Page, 1954 |
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| Gene Tierney, 1954 |
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| Charlene Chapman, 1956 |
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| Elsa Martinelli, 1962 |
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| Claudia Cardinale, 1963 |
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| Pola Negri, 1963 |
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| Lana Wood, 1966 |
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| Françoise Hardy, 1968 |
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Some of these are Leopards.
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