5009
Cheetah
Africa
Original ZT
$1,600
No
No
Yes
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5009 |
Cheetah |
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Africa |
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Original ZT |
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$1,600 |
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No |
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No |
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Yes |
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Cheetahs are unique cats found today primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, with small populations also existing in Iran and Russia. The oldest cheetah fossils, discovered in North America, date from about 4 million years ago. This animal was common throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America until about 10,000 years ago, when major climactic changes at the end of the last Ice Age caused many mammals to die out. Genetically, all cheetahs living today are as closely related as identical twins, which has led to the theory that the current cheetah population is descended from a single female and a few closely related males. This lack of genetic diversity makes the cheetah particularly vulnerable to disease. The cheetah's top speed of 71 mph makes it the fastest land animal on earth. From top to bottom, this cat is built to run! Wide nostrils connected to a large set of lungs allow quick air intake. Its long, streamlined torso is built upon light bones, with its spine designed to work as a spring for the powerful back legs, giving the cheetah a longer stride. The long tail provides balance on high speed turns, and hard and narrow paw pads, coupled with cleat-like claws, provide great traction. Adult cheetahs weigh 120 to 130 pounds. Their coats range from yellowish gray to reddish brown in color and are covered with small- to medium-sized black spots. Cheetahs' faces are patterned with black markings, resembling tears, that run from the inside of their eyes to their upper lips. Cheetahs can often be found in open savannah areas containing a good deal of cover in the form of tall grasses and bushes. The cheetah preys mainly on impalas, Thomson's gazelles, and other small, hoofed mammals. Their hunting style is to creep under cover to within 50 yards of an animal before giving chase. Top speed sprints last about 20 seconds, and rarely longer than a minute; however, a cheetah will continue a chase for up to 3.4 miles at an average speed of 45 mph. After a successful hunt, the exhausted cheetah needs to rest 20 to 30 minutes before eating. This makes their kill vulnerable to other predators, such as hyenas and lions. A cheetah will eat up to 30 pounds in a single meal. Cheetahs can go for four days or more without drinking and will eat melons as a substitute source of water. Unlike many other cats, cheetahs hunt during the day and are rarely active at night. Although these cats cannot roar, they have a distinctive chirping, bird-like call, and are capable of other sounds ranging from growls and barks to bleats. Cheetahs, especially cheetah cubs, are very playful animals and from an early age will chase, wrestle, stalk, and ambush each other. Cheetahs, along with lions and some feral cat populations, are the only cats that have some form of communal living. Two or three male cheetahs, generally siblings, will form coalitions, which are more successful at hunting and at holding territory than lone cheetahs. Female cheetahs avoid contact with other adult cheetahs except to mate. Cheetahs give birth in cover and keep their cubs hidden for the first month. Although cheetahs have reproductive difficulties, probably stemming from inbreeding, a successful pregnancy in the wild usually results in a large litter, with three to five cubs being average, and as many as eight possible. In captivity, possibly due to stress factors, litter sizes are much smaller, with one or two being average. In the wild, cheetah cubs have an estimated 75% mortality rate. Lions will go out of their way to kill cheetah cubs. Cheetahs are generally unhappy in captivity. They do not like crowds and require larger than average habitats, containing no more than three cheetahs. Cheetahs are an endangered species, with an estimated remaining population of between 9,000 and 12,000. The greatest risk to the cheetah is the ongoing reduction of their habitat. |
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20 |
60 |
50 |
70 |
|
12 |
20 |
-5 |
Yes |
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To build a good animal exhibit you need to ask a few questions: (click them for the answers) |
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Which fence is suitable for this animal in terms of strength, if it can be climbed or jumped over? |
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How big should the exhibit be and what Terrain should be used? |
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How deep should the exhibit be if using the "Pit Method"? |
2 level |
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Stick Pole Fence |
$75 |
2 |
225 |
12 |
16.0 |
|
Stick Pole Window Fence |
$75 |
2 |
225 |
12 |
16.0 |
|
Chain-link Fence |
$70 |
2 |
200 |
10 |
14.3 |
|
Post and Rail Fence |
$90 |
2 |
250 |
12 |
13.3 |
|
Wood Slat Window Fence |
$110 |
2 |
240 |
12 |
10.9 |
|
Wooden Slat Fence |
$110 |
2 |
240 |
12 |
10.9 |
|
Rock Wall Fence |
$150 |
2 |
280 |
14 |
9.3 |
|
Rock Window Fence |
$150 |
2 |
280 |
14 |
9.3 |
|
Concrete Chain Fence |
$150 |
2 |
275 |
14 |
9.3 |
|
Plexiglas Fence |
$150 |
2 |
270 |
13 |
8.7 |
|
Iron Bar Fence |
$180 |
2 |
290 |
14 |
7.8 |
|
Concrete Fence |
$200 |
2 |
300 |
15 |
7.5 |
|
Reinforced Concrete Fence |
$225 |
3 |
460 |
16 |
7.1 |
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Reinforced Concrete and Glass Fence |
$225 |
3 |
420 |
15 |
6.7 |
|
Concrete and Iron Bar Fence |
$240 |
3 |
440 |
15 |
6.3 |
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Electrified Chain-link Fence |
$300 |
3 |
480 |
18 |
6.0 |
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Electrified Iron Bar Fence |
$350 |
3 |
400 |
18 |
5.1 |
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Number of Animals/Exhibit |
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50 |
1 |
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3 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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Savannah grass |
90 |
45 |
90 |
135 |
180 |
225 |
270 |
315 |
360 |
405 |
450 |
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Dirt |
10 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
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4 |
8 |
16 |
24 |
32 |
40 |
48 |
56 |
64 |
72 |
80 |
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7 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
14 |
18 |
21 |
25 |
28 |
32 |
35 |
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| Elevation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Exhibit Size |
100 |
50 |
100 |
150 |
200 |
250 |
300 |
350 |
400 |
450 |
500 |
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7048 |
5 |
Thorn Bush |
32 |
$80 |
40.0 |
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7056 |
3 |
Yellow Fever Tree |
6 |
$175 |
3.4 |
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9206 |
2 |
Small Rock |
1 |
1 |
Yes |
8 |
$55 |
14.5 |
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9205 |
2 |
Medium Rock |
1 |
1 |
Yes |
8 |
$75 |
10.7 |
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9200 |
4 |
Large Rock |
2 |
2 |
Yes |
4 |
$150 |
2.7 |
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8100 |
Rock Cave |
22 |
7 |
$500 |
4 |
Yes |
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8112 |
Large Wood Shelter |
20 |
5 |
$325 |
6 |
Yes |
|
8109 |
Large Concrete Shelter |
20 |
5 |
$225 |
6 |
Yes |
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8111 |
Wood Shelter |
18 |
3 |
$225 |
4 |
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8108 |
Concrete Shelter |
18 |
3 |
$175 |
4 |
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8107 |
Small Concrete Shelter |
15 |
0 |
$125 |
2 |
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8110 |
Small Wood Shelter |
15 |
0 |
$175 |
2 |
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None |
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Low |
15 |
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ReproductionInterval(months): |
9 |
-12 |
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97 |
20 |
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1 |
TimeDeath(months): |
24 |
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BabyToAdult(months): |
6 |
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none |
Meat |
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Giant Panda |
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Chimpanzee |
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Plains Zebra |
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Thomsons Gazelle |
||
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Gray Wolf |
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Olive Baboon |
||
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Mandrill |
||
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Lowland Gorilla |
||
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Red Kangaroo |
||
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Common Wildebeest |
||
|
Ibex |
||
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Okapi |
||
|
Moose |
||
|
Gemsbok |
||
|
American Bighorn Sheep |
||
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Giraffe |
||
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Dromedary Camel |
||
|
Markhor |
||
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Greater Flamingo |
||
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Ostrich |
||
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Emporer Penguin |
||
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California Sea Lion |
||
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Giant Anteater |
||
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African Warthog |
||
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Black Buck |
||
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Bongo |
||
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Sable Antelope |
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|
Man |
||
| Elephant Seal | ||
| Pacific Walrus | ||
| Orangutan | ||
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| Japanese Serow | ||
| Przewalski's Wild Horse | ||
| Bigfoot | ||
| Mexican Wolf | ||
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