Rare King Cheetah Reacts to Sounds (00012570)
(3)
Description: The King Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus), also known as Acinonyx jubatus rex, is startled by unexpected noises in this image. This fascinating predator is nearly extinct in Asia and highly endangered in Africa. With its slender, muscular legs, the cheetah is the fastest land mammal. The rare King Cheetah differs from the regular cheetah with its unique fur variation featuring larger, darker spots that sometimes merge into stripes. The photograph was taken at the Hoedspruit Research & Breeding Centre in the Kapama Private Game Reserve, where both bred and rescued cheetahs are cared for and eventually reintroduced into the wild.
Location: Transvaal/Limpopo Province, Hoedspruit Research & Breeding Centre, South Africa
Date of Capture: 17.07.2003