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The King Cheetah

This is a rare mutation of the cheetah, characterised by elongated spots merged into stripes (normally 3). The first ever note of this animal was in Zimbabwe, 1926. It was declared a seperate species in 1927 by Reginald Innes Pocock, who reversed that decision in 1939, as she could find no evidence to prove her point.

Since 1927, this cheetah has been reported 5 times in the wild. Skins were available, but a photograph had not been taken until 1974 in the Kruger National Park. Crytzoologists obtained a pelt of this cat, and deduced that it was bigger than the normal spotted cat, and the fur had a different texture. In 1986, another was spotted in the wild, the first in seven years.

The status of this species was resolved in 1981 when two beautiful King cheetahs were born in the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife center. Two cheetah sisters, who had both mated with a wild cheetah from the Transvaal (new in the park) gave birth to one King Cheetah each. This male had come from an area where King Cheetahs had been recorded before.

Further King Cheetahs were then born at the center. The King Cheetah is so rare because the genes must come from BOTH parents.

This cheetah has been seen in Botswana, Zimbabwe and the Northern part of South Africa.

Some info:
http://users.aristotle.net/~swarmack/kngchtah.html

http://www.tigerhomes.org/animal/king-cheetah.cfm

http://www.newanimal.org/kcheetah.htm

"One of the greatest crimes of humanity is our greed. Our greed for the beauty of animals, the beauty we have not."

Here is a not so good photo of a King Cheetah I took in July this year at the Cheetah project in Hoedspruit.

There is only 70 of them left world wide.

wow some interesting info there WAC only 70

This "scan" from CUSTOS, 1988.

The sighting was in 1986, but the article also mentions a second "King" at N'watinungu waterhole, Dr Gus Mills replying that that covered both known "Kings" at that time! (1988)

Great info WAC

So is my understanding correct here? King cheetahs are not a separate species, but just a rare occurrence when the right genes (i'm guessing recessive alleles) are present from normal cheetah parents?

Nyamandlovu, that it quite correct. At one stage they were thought to be a subspecies, but fortunately sanity prevailed and they realised it is just a colour mutation/variation, same as the black/white/cinnamon springbok.

Thanks Marius
Absolutely stunning animals.

Very nice and interesting article !
I was 2 years ago in Hoedspruit Centre and with help of the staff I was allowed to make some pics of a.o. the King Cheetah.
I like to share them with you since it is a very very beautiful cheetah.
link:
http://www.studio-aat.com/wlc2/cproject_001.htm
enjoy
w.r.
Aat




[quote="Wild about cats"]The King Cheetah

This is a rare mutation of the cheetah, characterised by elongated spots merged into stripes (normally 3). The first ever note of this animal was in Zimbabwe, 1926. It was declared a seperate species in 1927 by Reginald Innes Pocock, who reversed that decision in 1939, as she could find no evidence to prove her point.

I saw one in the Hoedspruit facility in 1995.

there is a show on e-tv about the cheetah project in Cape area, called the cheetah diaries.

one of their cubs is also a "king"

check it out e-tv sundays 18:30

I vaguely recall hearing/reading sightings of a king cheetah around the Punda-Pafuri area when I was think 13 (1997- ). Does anyone know of this king cheetah? The first time I visited the North was well after this date so did not ever have a chance to try track it down.

Hello and welcome, Yat!

No, definitely no sightings of "Kings" ever seen in that area!

If you can tell me where joekin, I will check it out. Spier maybe?

BB all i could find, nothing about where it is. was watching it again last night, but forgot what the name of the place is. here is the link to etv The Cheetah Diaries

It sounds like in must be Spier.

I don't recall seeing a 'king' there