Animal Art

Cheetah
(Acinonyx jubatus)

The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, is the most unique and specialized member of the cat family and can reach speeds of 70 mph in just seconds. It is not an aggressive animal, using flight versus fight. With its weak jaws and small teeth, the price it paid for speed, it cannot fight larger predators to protect its kill or young. While cheetahs were once found all over Africa, they are now endangered in most of their former ranges. Today the species is extinct from more than 20 countries and between 9,000 to 12,000 animals remain, found mostly in small-pocketed populations.

Wildlife artist Kathie Miller has captured this big cat in a moment of rest using colored pencils.