Cheetahs and zebras are both native to Africa’s savannas and grasslands and often share the same habitat. While the two commonly encounter each other in the wild, cheetahs do not usually hunt zebras. Zebras are strong and powerful animals that live in large family groups, making them a risky target for a cheetah. Cheetahs are formidable hunters, but they only weigh 75 to 140 pounds, while zebras can weigh 380 to 950 pounds!
Cheetahs typically prey on smaller animals such as impalas, gazelles, small antelopes, birds, and hares. While they might occasionally target a wildebeest calf or a young or injured zebra, this is rare and quite risky. Cheetahs must carefully manage their energy expenditure, as those impressive bursts of speed require a lot of power — which is especially challenging if they have not eaten recently. Even though cheetahs have a 58% success rate when hunting, it is still not enough to justify the risk of chasing down a zebra.
Although many cheetahs are solitary hunters, occasionally they do join forces to hunt. Witnessing five cheetahs hunting as a team, however, is quite extraordinary. The video above provides a unique glimpse of the Tano Bora or Magnificent Five of Maa. These five male cheetahs have garnered significant attention, as male cheetahs typically hunt alone or with just one other male. A group of five males hunting together is a formidable force, enabling them to target larger prey such as topi antelopes, wildebeest, and even zebras.
Could a Zebra Outrun a Cheetah?
Zebras utilize their agility to run in zig-zag patterns when attempting to evade predators. fidanci/iStock via Getty Images
Could a zebra truly outpace a cheetah? It depends on the distance. Zebras can run quite fast — up to 40 mph — but cheetahs are even faster, reaching high speeds of 70 to 80 mph! Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 to 68 mph in just 3 seconds, allowing them to reach top speeds faster than most other animals. Therefore, in a short-distance race, a cheetah would easily emerge victorious.
However, cheetahs cannot sustain these high speeds for extended periods, usually only covering about a quarter of a mile. Sprinting at top speed causes their bodies to rapidly overheat, necessitating ample rest periods between sprints. On the contrary, zebras can maintain their top speed of 40 mph for over a mile! This implies that if a cheetah does not catch a zebra within the first few seconds, the zebra is likely to outpace the big cat and escape.
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