Cheetah

Paignton Zoo is currently home to two cheetahs: male Kitwana and female Jahzara. The pair live together in their exhibit at the top end of the zoo.

CheetahAcinonyx jubatus

  • Class:

    Mammals

  • Order:

    Carnivora

  • Family:

    Felidae

About the Cheetah

The agile cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal, native to savannahs and grasslands across eastern and southern Africa.

These big cats are carnivores, feeding mainly on gazelles and other small and medium-sized ungulates such as impala.

Conservation

Habitat loss and hunting are the top threats facing cheetahs in the wild today. There is also a very low variation of genetics within the species which hinders their continued survival.

Our cheetahs are part of the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme (EEP) for the species.

Interesting facts