How many miles per hour can a cheetah run?

Cheetahs can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour within only three seconds of starting to run. This high acceleration speed is essential to their hunting style, which involves stealth and sprinting to take down prey.

Cheetahs are carnivores, meaning they rely on meat to survive and remain healthy. Wild cheetahs live mostly in Africa, but there are small populations in the Middle East as well. Males can grow up to 4.5 feet tall and weigh up to 143 pounds, with females being smaller on average. In the wild, cheetahs have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Only approximately 10,000 cheetahs still exist in the wild, as of 2014.