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Schaller, G.B.
The hunting behaviour of the cheetah in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
1968 East African Wildlife Journal (6): 95-100
Eighty-nine per cent of 136 cheetah kills in the Serengeti National Park consisted of Thomson's gazelles, the most abundant and readily available species in the size category (60 kg or less) preferred by the cheetah. Fifty-four per cent of the Thomson's gazelle kills were subadult; among the adults all age classes were represented. One female cheetah captured 24 Thomson's gazelles in 26 days, a killing rate of 10kg/day. The actual food intake of this female was about 4 kg/day. The hunting success of cheetah pursuing large subadults and adult Thomson's gazelles was about 50 per cent. The hunting methods - including the various means of approaching prey - are described as are the typical ways of killing and feeding. Twelve per cent of the cheetah kills were appropriated by lions and hyaenas.
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