Cheetahs

The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal. Over short distances, it can sprint up to 70 miles per hour. Built for speed, it has long, slim, muscular legs, a small, rounded head set on a long neck, a flexible spine, a deep chest, special pads on its feet for traction and a long tail for balance. It is also the only cat that cannot retract its claws, an adaptation to help maintain traction.

See these amazing creatures at Cheetah Run.

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay supports the conservation of and education about cheetahs through the SeaWorld® & Busch Gardens® Conservation Fund, which has donated nearly $100,000 to cheetah efforts in Africa since 2005 and also helps fund conservation programs for white rhinos, marine animals and many other species around the world.

Q: Are cheetahs endangered?

BG: Cheetahs are included on both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of vulnerable species as well as on the US Endangered Species Act list of threatened species. Only approximately 12,400 cheetahs remain in the wild.

Q: How many cheetahs live in Cheetah Run?

BG: Fourteen cheetahs call Cheetah Run home.

Q: How fast can a cheetah run?

BG: Cheetahs can easily reach speeds of 70 miles per hour.