International Cheetah Day: A Call to Protect the World’s Fastest Land Animal

Every year on December 4th, International Cheetah Day raises awareness about the urgent need to protect cheetahs from extinction.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds of 70 mph in just three seconds and leaping up to 21 feet in a single bound. These sleek, graceful cats are known for their long legs, short tan fur, and thousands of black spots (around 2,000–3,000), which help them blend into their surroundings.

The day was established by Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, in honor of Khayam, a cheetah she raised at Wildlife Safari in Oregon. Dr. Marker took Khayam to Namibia to test if captive-born cheetahs could learn to hunt. The experiment was successful and inspired her lifelong dedication to cheetah conservation. December 4th was chosen to mark Khayam’s birthday.

Cheetahs are Africa’s most endangered large cats, with fewer than 8,000 remaining in the wild by 2020—a 50% decline over the last 40 years. They face threats like habitat loss from expanding human activity and were once hunted for their fur.

International Cheetah Day highlights the importance of global cooperation to protect cheetahs and their natural habitats.

In a historic effort, African cheetahs were reintroduced into the wild at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India. This marked the first intercontinental translocation of the species, with 20 cheetahs relocated: eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.

Dr. Laurie Marker began her work with cheetahs at Wildlife Safari in the U.S. before founding the Cheetah Conservation Fund in 1990. Her early research in Namibia focused on teaching captive-born cheetahs to survive in the wild, laying the foundation for her conservation efforts.