From 0 to 100 and 100 to 0 in less than 3 seconds. What does it take for this outstanding feat? Evolutionary engineering under the supervision of the best engineer on earth – Nature.
Slim, muscular, and lean legs to minimize air resistance, a small rounded head set on a long neck and a flexible spine to maneuver at will, a deep chest with a flattened rib cage enclosing the lungs of a Sherpa to churn in O2 to feed 150 breaths per minute.
Special thick pads on its feet for traction and a long tail that acts as a rudder to steer, stabilize and balance. Non-retractable claws, an adaptation to help maintain traction like a soccer player’s cleats. Distinctive black “tear tracks” running from the inside corner of each eye to the mouth serve as an anti-glare mechanism for daytime hunting.
With flexible hips and free-moving shoulder blades, the cheetah's skeleton is a sort of spring – storing and releasing energy at will – attaining a stride length of an incredible 25 feet per push.
A cat so incredible yet so vulnerable, fewer than 8000 roam the wild. The onus is on us – the humans – to take steps to prevent these wonders of nature from going extinct.
Here’s my tribute to the gems of the Savannah – Cheetahs
