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2010 Digital Calendar photo description 

"Search and Selection"


Early morning in the Phinda Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, these

two Cheetah brothers climbed into a large tree and settled down comfortably to survey

the scene to search for and select suitable prey to pursue.


Cheetah  -  Acinonyx jubatus


The Cheetah is a cat with a greyhound chassis that is built for speed. It is light-boned, sway-backed, with long thin legs, a short neck and weighing between 35 and 65 kg. Its coat is tawny with small solid black spots, white underparts, black and white ringed outer-tail, black ear-backs, lips, nose and distinctive "tear stains". Hunting Cheetahs employ several strategies to approach antelopes, depending on terrain, species and behaviour of the animals. Although top speed is an incredible 112 km/h, a Cheetah can only sprint 300 m before rising temperature and oxygen debt force it to quit.

Average speed during a chase is around 64 km/h.


Nikon D3,  12.1 megapixel resolution,  FX format,  AF VR-Nikkor 200-400 mm  f4G lens with

Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E11 1.4x,  focal length 280 mm  1/125th sec @ f5.6, ISO 400,

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight for fill flash


Photograph by Trevor Woodburn