Kathleen McGillar, age 9, of Winston Salem, N.C., for her question:
HOW FAST CAN A CHEETAH RUN?
Handsome markings on many large members of the cat family had made the fur extremely valuable for coats. So many leopards were killed for their fur, however, that the animals have become rare in many places, and several subspecies even face possible extinction. For this reason, the United States government forbids the importation of leopard skins for coats.
The cheetah, which is often called the hunting leopard, is one of the most famous members of the large cat family. It can be found living wild on the plains of Africa and Asia. It's a zoo favorite around the world.
Speed is one of the cheetah's greatest attributes. It can run at a top speed of about 70 miles per hour. Because of this swiftness, the cheetah can run down its prey after stalking close to it. It is the fastest animal known for running short distances at great speed.
The cheetah cannot completely sheathe, or retract, its claws as many other members of the cat family can.
Standing between three to four feet in height, the cheetah has a small head and a long, full tail. The animal has a yellowish color, with black spots over all his body except his throat. He also has long, slender legs.
Since 9900, the number of cheetahs has declined in many parts of Africa. The species is also nearly extinct in Asia.
Cheetah skins are highly prized, and some Africans use the fur to make clothes for their chiefs.
In India, the cheetah is sometimes tamed and then trained for hunting. The native hunters blindfold the cheetah until the game appears. When freed, the cheetah makes a fast dash for the animal and holds it down until the hunters arrive..
The cheetah is the only meat eating animal that can overtake an antelope or gazelle.
Closely related to the cheetah is the leopard. A big male leopard may measure nine feet from nose to tail and weigh between 100 and 160 pounds. The smaller female leopard usually weighs about 75 pounds.
Cheetahs and leopards seldom attack human beings. They are considered to be more dangerous than either tigers or lions, however.
A leopard's coat is a bit like the cheetah's. The coat is light tan rather than yellowish and the black spots are closer together. The leopard's tail has dark rings around it.