International Cheetah Day

International Cheetah Day is celebrated on December 4th around the world, and is a day to reflect on the beauty and grace of these amazing animals. Unfortunately, big cats have been declared endangered, and this is something that we need to work together to change.

History

International Cheetah Day was founded in 2010, and has an inspiring origin story. In 1977, American zoologist and brave woman Laurie L. Marker went on a safari in Oregon. From there, she had the idea to take a leopard and see if he could be released back into the wild, hunt, and survive. This experiment was a success, but another problem arose – the inhabitants of Namibia were destroying cheetahs and their habitats. Laurie worked hard to help the local population learn how to live in balance with the wildlife, and in 1992 the Cheetah Conservation Foundation was founded to study and protect cheetah populations. This was an important step forward in the conservation of these animals.

Interesting facts

• Cheetahs have amazing speed, being able to catch up to their prey in seconds – the record belongs to a cheetah named Sarah who ran 100 meters in 5 seconds!
• Cheetahs have black eyes which help them to see their prey in all weather conditions.
• Cheetahs are adapted to handle extreme heat, and prefer to leave their shelters at night or on cloudy days.
• Cheetahs are known for being trainable, and can learn a variety of commands.
• They spend 50% of the time they are running, in the air.
• They purr and meow instead of growling.
• They rarely need to drink water, only about once every 3-4 days.

How to take part

There are many ways to get involved in International Cheetah Day! You could:

• Go on safari and witness these incredible animals in their natural habitats.
• Donate to the Laurie L. Marker Foundation.
• Volunteer to help with conservation efforts.
• Educate yourself and your friends about the importance of protecting cheetahs.

When is International Cheetah Day celebrated in 2023?

International Cheetah Day is observed on December 4 each year.

Observations