A new study finds that endangered cheetahs are more likely to hunt at dawn and dusk on hot days, which increases their odds of conflict with other nocturnal predators. The
A new study finds that endangered cheetahs are more likely to hunt at dawn and dusk on hot days, which increases their odds of conflict with other nocturnal predators. The researchers placed GPS tracking collars on 54 large carnivores in Botswana including cheetahs, lions, leopards to track their hours of activity over eight years. They compared this data with maximum daily temperature records. When temperatures soared to nearly 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), cheetahs became more nocturnal increasing their overlapping hunting hours with rival big cats by 16%. The research was published Wednesday in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
A new study finds that endangered cheetahs are more likely to hunt at dawn and dusk on hot days, which increases their odds of conflict with other nocturnal predators. The researchers placed GPS tracking collars on 54 large carnivores in Botswana — including cheetahs, lions, leopards — to track their hours of activity over eight years. They compared this data with maximum daily temperature records. When temperatures soared to nearly 113 degrees Fahrenheit, cheetahs became more nocturnal — increasing their overlapping hunting hours with rival big cats by 16%. The research was published Wednesday in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Cheetahs are usually daytime hunters, but the speedy big cats will shift their activity toward dawn and dusk hours during warmer weather, a new study finds. Unfortunately for endangered cheetahs, that sets them up for more potential conflicts with mostly nocturnal competing predators such as lions and leopards, say the authors of research published Wednesday…
"Cheetahs are usually daytime hunters, but the speedy big cats will shift their activity toward dawn and dusk hours during warmer weather, a new study finds. Unfortunately for endangered cheetahs, that sets them up for more potential conflicts with mostly nocturnal competing predators such as lions and leopards, say the authors of research published Wednesday . ."