The Savannah
Locate the Cheetahs in the Savannah exhibit. Observe for at least 5, but no more than 10 minutes (they may not always be in view). You may need to check back periodically while you view the written information provided at the exhibit by zookeepers, which you can access below. Remember to answer the questions in your Journal!
Hear it from the Experts!
Watch the videos below to learn more about the Cheetah from the experts in the field. Use the information from the videos and your zoo observations to complete Chart 2 in your Journal! You will record environmental conditions in the left boxes and adaptions in the right boxes. Remember that the environment includes abiotic (nonliving) AND biotic (living) factors. Adaptations that help animals hunt or interact with each other area also influenced by the environmental conditions. Be sure to explain the environmental factor the adaptation helps it overcome. Don't forget that you can get up to 2 points extra credit by filling in extra information at the bottom of the chart (this can include the 2 unique facts from the zoo question section).
Smithsonian
Jack Hannah
Adapt it!
This animal is extremely well adapted to grassland environments. How do you think it would adapt to a jungle, where it can not run in a straight line? Consider such an environment for this big cat. Remember these would only happen over thousands of years, but we are speeding up the process.
Page References
CNN. 2012. Jack Hannah, Piers Morgan, and a Cheetah. [Online Video]. Retrieved November 23, 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lHWVNlr4YI
National Geographic. (n.d.). Cheetah Run. [Online Image]. Retrieved November 23, 2013
from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/animals/photos/cheetahs/cheetah-run/
Smithsonian Channel. (2013). Speed Kills: This is why you can't outrun a Cheetah. [Online Video]. Retrieved November 23, 2013
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8vejjVgIHg
Smithsonian Institute. (n.d.). Cheetah Fact Sheet. Retrieved November 23, 23013 from http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AfricanSavanna/Facts/fact-cheetah.cfm
National Geographic. (n.d.). Cheetah Run. [Online Image]. Retrieved November 23, 2013
from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/animals/photos/cheetahs/cheetah-run/
Smithsonian Channel. (2013). Speed Kills: This is why you can't outrun a Cheetah. [Online Video]. Retrieved November 23, 2013
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8vejjVgIHg
Smithsonian Institute. (n.d.). Cheetah Fact Sheet. Retrieved November 23, 23013 from http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AfricanSavanna/Facts/fact-cheetah.cfm