dodi954: If they can go to 0-70 mph how long does it take for them to stop?
Peter Gros: Very quickly, in under two seconds. The chase usually culminates when they reach their prey. (They have success capturing prey less than 50 percent of the time.) They have long nails and dog-like feet, and a long, flat tail, which they use like a rudder — these aid them greatly in making abrupt stops and turns.
deacnblews: If their extinction is, in fact, due to their inability to compete with other predators, is there much we as humans can do? And, more importantly, should we interfere?
Peter Gros: Yes, indeed. We should do whatever we can, since one of the greatest threats to cheetah populations comes from humans. There will always be the threat of lions and other large predators that affect cheetah populations. That's natural. That keeps a balance of wild species in nature. However, we can affect the attitudes of ranchers, farmers and local indigenous people by offering solutions, such as guard dogs, to help keep cheetahs away rather than poisoning and shooting them.
alexis13: How can people kill such beeutiful animals? Cheetahs need to live like us. It is bad to kill cheetahs. How do people manage to wear cheetah clothing when they are killing the cheetah species?
Peter Gros: Alexis, I agree with you. I think that a cheetah is one of the most magnificent animals in the world. I think that wild animal coats belong on the animals themselves too. There is hope, however, thanks to people like Dr. Laurie Marker and shows on Animal Planet and companies like Mutual of Omaha, who have been educating people for generations about the importance of saving wild lands and wild animals. I do think cheetahs stand a very good chance of being able to live and flourish in coexistence with people and their environment.
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