African Cheetah

My first thought was that this bell represented the African leopard which is one of the Big Five game animals in Africa. The Lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino are named the ‘Big 5’ because they are the most difficult and dangerous to hunt on foot.

In the game reserves and national parks of Southern Africa, the Big Five are considered safari royalty. Today, the phrase has come to represent the most sought-after safari sightings.

There are other beautiful and endangered African animals that are not on the Big Five list. These include the cheetah, the African wild dog, the giraffe, and the hippo.

Does my bell show the pattern on the coat of a cheetah or a leopard? I believe it may be a cheetah.

The most common difference between a leopard and a cheetah is the patterns on their coat. A leopard has rosettes which are rose-like markings and in most of the pictures I could find, their markings look darker than the cheetahs spots. The cheetahs’ tawny coloured coats have round or oval spots which are arranged in unique patterns that help them to identify each other.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. They are capable of running at 80 to 128 km per hour. These cats are very nimble and are able to make quick and sudden turns while pursuing their prey at very high speeds.

The cheetah is a large cat but because it does not have a floating Hyoid bone in its neck it can not roar. Instead a cheetah meows and purrs.

Their eyes help them hunt. They have excellent eyesight that helps them find prey during the day. The cheetah is hard to see because its spotted coat blends in well with the tall, dry grass of the plains.

I have had the opportunity to see many of the African animals while on my travels to Africa. You can find out more about my adventures in my Travelling Tuesdays book.

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