International Cheetah Day: 5 Facts About These Big Cats

Sleek, speedy and sassy, you can find cheetahs prowling the grasslands and bushy areas of Africa of the Middle East. But the big cat is in big danger: Only 7,100 remain in the wild, with numbers continuing to decline due to habitat loss and poaching. Luckily, nonprofits like the Cheetah Conservation Fund work to keep these cool cats around. Donate if you can—and read on to see what makes these ferocious felines so fun.

1. The word cheetah comes from the Hindi word "chita" meaning "spotted one."
2. That long tail isn't just for looks: It helps stabilize and steer cheetahs as they reach top speeds of 70 mph.
3. Even though cheetahs are the fastest animal on land, they typically only run at half speed. And after chasing down their dinner, they need about a half hour to catch their breath before digging in.
4. Baby cheetahs may look like they're having a bad hair day, but their messy tresses work as camouflage in tall grass.
5. While they're looped in the category of big cats—with lions, tigers and the like—cheetahs are much smaller than their catty comrades. (Cheetahs weigh in at 77 to 143 pounds, tigers are 240 to 500 pounds and lions are 265 to 420 pounds)

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