International Cheetah Day
Updated: Jun 27, 2022
December 4th is International Cheetah Day. It was started in 2010 by a researcher named Dr. Laurie Marker, the founder of Cheetah Conservation Fund, in remembrance of a cheetah cub named Khayam, whose birthday was December 4th. Khayam was part of the first research project in rewilding to determine if it was possible to teach captive-born cheetahs to hunt and survive on their own in the wild.
Dr. Marker noted on a 1977 trip to Namibia how endangered the cheetah was becoming, as a result of farmers killing the big cats in large numbers as a way to protect their livestock. In 1990, Dr. Marker started the Cheetah Conservation Fund and relocated to Namibia as an advocate to the cheetah in the farmer-cheetah conflict.
Cheetah Facts
Cheetahs are the fastest land animal, clocking a speed of up to 75 miles per hour (110 kilometres per hour) in just 3 seconds!
A cheetah's tail is large, strong, and flat and works similarly to a rudder. Their tails help them keep their balance and steer while running.
The face of a cheetah has two black lines that look like tear streaks from its eyes. These black markings help reflect the glare of the sun, similar to the black marks football players use under their eyes, and they also act as a sort of "scope" to help the cheetah aim for their prey while hunting.
Cheetahs are easily distinguished from other spotted big cats, as their spots are solid, unlike leopards or jaguars.
There are fewer than 7,100 cheetahs left in the wild, making it the most endangered big cat in Africa.
In the last 100 years, 90% of the cheetah population has been lost due to human activity, such as lost habitat and illegal trading of cheetahs.
What You Can Do to Help
Buy a sweet shirt or hoodie from Cheetah Conservation Fund, which is scored 4 out of 4 stars on Charity Navigator.
Adopt a cheetah from World Wildlife Fund, Born Free, or Naankuse.
Donate to reputable organizations like Panthera and the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
Spiritual Significance of Cheetah
Author's note: Many people refer to “totem animals” or “spirit animals.” As I am not Native American, out of respect to indigenous peoples and sensitivity of cultural appropriation, I have adopted the terms “animal messengers,” "animal allies," and “soul animals" to differentiate that I am not referring to the closed practices of Native American spiritual systems and ceremonies.
Cheetah can teach you how to take advantage of opportunities, especially if the opportunities are fleeting. If Cheetah has shown up in your life recently, take a look at what opportunities are available to you and ask if Cheetah is encouraging you to act on them.
When it comes to challenges and struggles, Cheetah can model how to maneuver swiftly through those challenges. Because cheetahs are so fast, they need to know how to trust their instinct and make split-second decisions. Cheetah can offer that level of confidence in your instincts as well.
For goal-setting and achieving, Cheetah can show you how to achieve your goals by keeping your eye on the target and staying intently focused. Cheetahs are extremely focused and they can teach one to create more focus in their own life when setting out to achieve their goals or aspirations. What goals do you have that could benefit from a sharper focus?
If Cheetah has shown up in your life, pay attention to what it may be trying to tell you. If you feel a connection to Cheetah, it may be because you are either in need of its energy or you already possess its energy. Work with Cheetah in meditation or ritual to see what personal messages Cheetah has for you.
Sources:
Charlie Nichols is the founder of WHE and a staff contributor. Charlie studied Journalism & Mass Communication, Marketing, and Psychology at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin. She has practiced witchcraft for over two decades and is a certified spiritual empowerment coach, a certified ethical psychic, and a certified crystal healer. Charlie lives on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, USA with her partner, daughter, and animal companions.
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