Hunting tactics of cheetahs
Despite the well-known adage that cheetahs simply "outrun" their prey, the new research has shown that may adapt their hunt to different prey species, even anticipating their escape tactics.
A team of researchers from Queen's University Belfast collaborated with several UK institutions, using GPS and accelerometer data loggers, as well as traditional observation methods, to track the cheetahs' movements.
Lead researcher Dr Michael Scantlebury explained that previous beliefs that cheetahs are simply faster than their prey, do not explain how they are able to catch more agile animals.
He explained: "We now know that rather than a simple maximum speed chase… cheetahs first accelerate rapidly to get them close to the prey, but then have to actively slow down to be able to match prey escape manoeuvres.
"It is like a deadly tango between the hunter and the hunted, with one mirroring the escape tactics of the other."
Dr Scantlebury added that the time cheetahs spend in the initial high-speed phase and the second slower phase changes according to the prey species.
Ostriches, hares and steenbok, he says, attempt to escape predators with sudden changes in direction, whereas wildebeest, gemsbok and springbok try to run fast in a straight line.
The research team also discovered that cheetah movements differ in successful and non-successful hunts. Non-successful hunts appeared to involve less energy and less turning at the end of the hunt, probably because the cheetah realised it would not be able to catch up.
Dr Scantlebury concluded: "These exciting findings are an important foundation for ensuring the preservation of these magnificent animals and for future studies in this area."
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