Hat is it that comes to your mind when you hear the word cheetah' Speed; a word that best describes this beautiful animal. The Acinonyx jubatus as it is scientifically known, is the fastest mammal, capable of achieving 110 kmph! The cheetah is a member of the cat family but unlike other cats, its claws are equipped to help it run better even on soft ground. Interestingly, it does not hunt by ambushing like other big cats, but hunts its prey by chasing it at a high speed, while using its tail as a stabiliser, especially when making sharp turns. While the male cheetahs roam in groups, the females tend to live a solitary life; except in the breeding season. Its diet mainly comprises gazelles, gnus, antelopes, and warthogs. Till about 50 years ago, cheetahs were found in the Indian subcontinent, but excessive hunting and habitat loss have resulted in its extinction. This endangered and protected species is now found in the Savanna and grasslands of the sub-Saharan Africa. Scientists in India are trying to clone the cheetah from Iran, but no one is sure this will work out.