From 0 to 100 and 100 to 0 in less than 3 seconds. What does it take for this outstanding feat? Evolutionary engineering under the supervision of the best engineer on earth – Nature.

Slim, muscular, and lean legs to minimize air resistance, a small rounded head set on a long neck and a flexible spine to maneuver at will, a deep chest with a flattened rib cage enclosing the lungs of a Sherpa to churn in O2 to feed 150 breaths per minute.

Special thick pads on its feet for traction and a long tail that acts as a rudder to steer, stabilize and balance. Non-retractable claws, an adaptation to help maintain traction like a soccer player’s cleats. Distinctive black “tear tracks” running from the inside corner of each eye to the mouth serve as an anti-glare mechanism for daytime hunting.

With flexible hips and free-moving shoulder blades, the cheetah's skeleton is a sort of spring – storing and releasing energy at will – attaining a stride length of an incredible 25 feet per push.

A cat so incredible yet so vulnerable, fewer than 8000 roam the wild. The onus is on us – the humans – to take steps to prevent these wonders of nature from going extinct.

Here’s my tribute to the gems of the Savannah – Cheetahs

TITAN

Bonding

Recently separated from their mother and not yet fully adept at hunting on their own, independent male and female cheetah cubs will stick together for many more months to master their hunting skills. Having been born together, grown together, played together, and faced all the hurdles of survival, the bonding of the siblings and affection between them is truly

worth a watch. But this won’t last forever.

As the female sibling becomes sexually mature, she will eventually split from her brother to lead a largely independent life. The male on the other hand, if solitary, faces a life or death scenario as alone, he won’t be able to survive in the wild. Forming a coalition with other male cheetahs is his best bet as it increases hunting success and acts as a defense against other predators. But finding a group to be part of is in itself a challenge of its own.

The males will roam until they can find and defend a territory. This process can take a few years and males may travel hundreds of miles, being moved out of one area to another, pushed on by more experienced male coalitions. Life in the wild is nothing but one challenge followed by the next. It truly is the survival of the fittest.

We > Me #18

What is the value?

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