Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The word "cheetah" is derived from the Hindi word meaning "spotted one" and is the name given to the orange and black African spotted cats. With the ability to reach speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour, cheetahs are the fastest land animals on earth. They live in small packs of three to five, consisting of either a mother and cubs or adult brothers. Cheetahs are predators, hunting small and large prey such as hares and gazelles. With only 10,000 to 12,500 cheetahs existing in the world--a majority of which can be found in the eastern African countries of Kenya and Tanzania--they are on the endangered species list. There are several organizations dedicated to the preservation of the species.
Despite the name, these animals are actually dark yellow brown to dark brown or dark gray in color. They have two horns on their head, though sometimes there is a small third horn which weighs an average of 1,763 to 3,086 pounds. To avoid heat, rhinoceroses sleep in mud or water during mid-day and eat during the morning or evening hours. They are vegetarians and eat the leaves of various plants.
Black rhinos are the prey of other animals, including lions. Poachers have long hunted black rhinos for their horns, which are turned into weapons and used for medicinal purposes. Due to this poaching, they are on the endangered species list, with only about 2,000 in existence. In eastern Africa, they can be found in Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.
With an average height of 16 to 18 feet, giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. Like a human finger print, each giraffe's spotted coat is unique to him or her, with no two patterns the same. These animals typically live and travel in herds of six and are constantly on the move in search of food. Their diet consists of plant vegetation, which they usually attain from tree tops. Their height is advantageous in that it helps them to spot predators--such as lions and cheetahs--from miles away. Their height can also be a disadvantage, as they need to put themselves into vulnerable positions that leave them open to attack when they drink. There are approximately 5,000 giraffes left in the world, placing them on the endangered species list. They travel through several of the countries in Eastern Africa.