In a small area of Zimbabwe, the King Cheetah, once classed as a separate species, has spots joining up to form stripes and angles. Cheetah used to be found from Morocco south through Africa and across to India wherever there was suitable open country, ranging from semi-desert to open bush, but it has been hunted for its fur and for its preying on livestock, and captured to be trained for use as a hunting leopard. It is now extinct in most of the northern parts of its range. In Asia it is now found only in reserves in Iran, in Africa a few may still survive in Libya, but in West Africa it has largely disappeared and in East Africa it survives only in reserves and parks. The main population is now in southern Africa, especially in Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Cheetahs usually hunt in the cool of evening, early morning or by moonlight.
Hunting in groups, cheetahs will also bring down zebra and wildebeest. More frequently they hunt alone or in pairs, but small family groups are often seen, usually three or four related males or a female with cubs. Cubs are born in litters of two to four, hidden in thick scrub or dense grass. They soon find their feet. Juveniles become independent from about 18 months and are sexually mature by two years old.