As the fastest land animals in the world, cheetahs are known for running. Their entire bodies are built for speed – from their long legs and semi-retractable claws to their deep chests and small heads. Their tails are also built to help with speed; its long muscular tail works as a rudder, stabilizing and acting as a counter balance to the cat’s body weight. This allows sudden sharp turns during high speed chases – a very important skill when your prey is often an agile antelope.
Ro and Reh demonstrate a bit of their speed during a play session in the Zoo’s cheetah yard. You can see how their tails move depending on their strides; it keeps them on their feet while they play tag all over the yard.
*whew* Time for a rest.
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