28 May 2002 - Our Zoo experiences - Years 5 & 6 residential week.
READ ON.... for our special memories..... arguments for and against zoos...... and much more... including some information on favourite animalsAt the end of May 2002 Years 5 and 6 spent a great residential week in the south Devon town of Paignton - mainly in and around the famous Paignton Zoo.
Links to a great site to help us with our studies on the variety of animal life, adaptabilitly, habitats and evolution:
http://www.rhads.net/zoo2001/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In LITERACY HOUR we considered the arguments for and against Zoos. Children were asked to construct a reasoned argument before reaching a conclusion. Here are a few examples:
******************************************************************
SHOULD ZOOS BE ALLOWED?
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to explore both sides of the argument and then give my own opinion at the end.
Some people think that zoos are a good idea because people are allowed to watch and learn about the animals that they would never see otherwise. They can also provide a safe home for ill or rejected animals that would not be able to survive in the wild. Animals are conserved in a safe environment.
On the other hand some people think that zoos are a bad idea because they think that animals should not be kept in captivity. The animals might miss their wild habitat.
Weighing up both sides of the argument I think that zoos are a good idea because the animals are looked after well and they have quite big enclosures.
******************************************************************
ZOOS ? YES or NO?
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to explore both sides of the argument and then give my own opinion at the end.
Some people think that zoos are a good idea because people are allowed to watch and learn about the animals that they would never see otherwise. They can also provide a safe home for ill or rejected animals that would not be able to survive in the wild. Animals are conserved in a safe environment.
On the other hand some people think that zoos are a bad idea because they think that animals should not be kept in captivity. The animals might miss their wild habitat.
Weighing up both sides of the argument I think that zoos are a good idea because the animals are looked after well and they have quite big enclosures.
******************************************************************
SHOULD ZOOS BE ALLOWED?
Naomi H
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to try and explore both sides of the argument and come to my conclusion.
Argument for:
If we didn?t have a zoo a baby cub might not survive if it?s the mother?s
first born, and it won?t know how to feed it?s young. Zoos also allow people like us to watch and learn about animals. In the wild some creatures are dying out; zoos can help protect a species so they can be returned to the wild.
Argument against:
It is really quite cruel to put animals in zoos because they wont have any freedom. They are often put behind bars and might feel sad by having so little space.
Summing up:
My conclusion is to allow zoos as I think they do more good than bad.
******************************************************************
ZOOS: Should they be closed?
by Kathryn
INTRODUCTION: Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to explore both sides of the argument and come to my own conclusion.
THE CASE FOR HAVING A ZOO: People can see lots of different animals and the animals need a safe place. Zoos help animal from becoming extinct and provide a place where people can see wild animals.
THE CASE AGAINST HAVING A ZOO: People think it is wrong to keep animals in cages. Animal may miss their family and they might become scared of visitors. They might become reliant on the keepers.
MY CONCLUSION: I think it is an excellent idea and I personally love to meet new animals.
*****************************************************************
MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT ZOOS SHOULD ALL BE CLOSED.
I am going to explore both sides of this argument and come to my own conclusion.
My first reason for having zoos is that people that live in town don?t often get the chance to see some of the birds and other animals that are in the zoos. My second reason is that people are able to learn about animals. My last reason is that the animals will get given as much food as they need and will be safe from all the dangers of life in the wild and therefore stand a greater chance of survival.
On the other hand there is a case for closing zoos:
My first reason for the zoos to be closed is that the animals cannot have young when they are not that happy with things. My second reason is that some people think that it is cruel to keep animals locked up. My last reason is that they might be frightened by the humans.
Overall I think it is a good idea to keep the zoos opens because the people like them, and they do good.
******************************************************************
ZOOS? SHOULD THEY EXIST?
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I'm going to explore both sides of the argument and come to my own conclusion.
In the zoo it is cruel to keep animals in closed areas.
I think the lions and other wild animals will depend on their keepers too much.
However, zoos help in the breeding of animals so they won't become extinct. If the dodo had been put in a zoo, it might still be around.
Therefore I think zoos are a good thing.
Jonathon Hedges
******************************************************************
THE CASE FOR AND AGAINST ZOOS
Introduction
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed.
I am going to explore both sides of the argument, then give my own opinion.
FOR ZOOS
Animals close to extinction can survive and breed in zoos.
You can see interesting animals that you might never see in the wild; you can learn more about animals there. It can be fascinating to see animals in very similar habitats to their wild environment.
AGAINST ZOOS
Animals are less likely to breed if they are unhappy. If you keep an animal caged up with nothing to stimulate them they will soon go quietly bonkers. If animals are looking unhappy, upset or unstimulated, zoos are going to have an increasingly high chance that you will have less visitors going to zoos.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion I think that zoos are a good ideas as long as the keepers keep the animals well stimulated and happy and in the right size enclosures.
******************************************************************
MEMORIES, MEMORIES, MEMORIES ....................................
PAIGNTON RESIDENTIAL WEEK
By Tom W.
I was in my bed wondering what would happen the next morning. Suddenly it was the next day and I found that I was on the way to one of the best trips ever! I was sitting next to Ryan Webber on the coach. We arrived at Paignton. The zoo awaited us?
When we got to the zoo we went to the restaurant and met Keith (the bean man). Once we had eaten our beans, and other food, we went on to the classroom at the zoo. We left our stuff there and went to the education centre where we had a lesson about the animals we would see at the zoo. Later we went off in groups and answered the work sheet. I was with Andrew, Naomi, Rebecca and Stephanie. That evening we went to the fun house called Jungle Fun.
On Tuesday we went to the education centre again. This time the theme was habitats like deserts, Polar Regions and tropical rainforests. We all went off in the same groups as before. With our groups we did a sheet called habitat. There were four sheets but sir was kind and let each group do one sheet each so that we could become experts in one particular habitat and share our findings afterwards. At twelve thirty we went to Jungle Fun for the second time as a treat. We were supposed to be there until 1 but we stayed until almost half past! When we got back to the hotel we had our tea. Everyone then had some free time. Then we got on the coach and went to the Torbay swimming pool. It was Boys vs Girls in a splash war. I was sir?s best friend for half an hour as everyone kept splashing him. Once we were off the coach we went downstairs to the hotel dinning room. That was when I had found out that my cap was gone. Sir then told us that we were going to start the games tournament. People who didn?t know how to play Othello (like me) watched Sir and Ryan play each other, as a demonstration. Then we all played draughts and Othello. Then it was bedtime.
On Wednesday we got ready like usual and had breakfast. We then got on the coach and went to the Torquay Natural History Museum; it was great. I found out things that were amazing about animals and evolution. We found out that Agatha Christie wrote loads of books. I was able to buy a belemnite in the gift shop. We travelled to Kent?s Cavern, where Stone Age people once lived. We had our packed lunch and then met our guide. In the caves our guide, Terry, turned the lights off. It was rather frightening! We saw stalagmite and stalactites and found more about life in the caves in the past In the gift. I got a bag of secret stones 2.50.Once we got back we had our tea (thankfully without beans!) One of the best bits of the trip was the teddy bear colouring in competition, when out teddies had to colour in pictures. Once that was done our teddies had their picture taken with the other bears. Then they drank their hot chocolate. Sir said ?Bed time!?. Thursday, the last day of our trip. Once we were ready we went off on and off we went to bed.
Thursday was our last trip to the zoo. We got our stuff from the classroom and did the last few jobs. We spent the morning studying our special animals. After our lunch we went to the gift shop and I brought a picture for a BARGAIN price! Also I got a dolphin key ring and if you squeeze it the eyes pop out. Then we stepped through the zoo entrance door for the very last time, returned to the hotel to collect we got our bags and said our last goodbyes.
Paignton Week - a trip to remember for ever!
******************************************************************
PAIGNTON MEMORIES by Rebecca H.
On Monday morning I was very excited. When we got to school we had to put our bags in the door way and at 9:15am we walked down to the coach. We stopped at an Exeter service station where we were allowed to go in a play area and have a run around.
When we got to the Paignton Court Hotel we dropped our bags off and went to the zoo. When we got to the zoo we went straight to the restaurant. When we went in, a man called Keith told us some of the rules of the restaurant. If we threw any food we had to clean the place where the school was sitting. He seemed very strict.
The first activity we did at the zoo was the zoo safari; we searched the zoo using a map, to help us find our way around. On Tuesday we did an adaptation to habitat worksheet and in the afternoon we went to the discovery centre.
On Wednesday we went to Kents Cavern. It was very good. On one of the walls on the cave it looked like a face. I really enjoyed it. Earlier we went to Torquay Natural History Museum.
On Monday evening we went to Jungle Fun it was really good. On Tuesday evening we went to the Torbay Leisure Centre. On Wednesday evening we were supposed to go kite making but the coach never arrived so we went for a walk in the rain, onto the pier and past the shops where we stopped for chips.
The Hotel was very nice; it was bright yellow and the bedrooms were really nice. Melissa and I shared a room and we had an en-suite bedroom. The food was really nice. The owners were called Sue & Keith and they had a daughter called Jocie.
The funniest moments were when Melissa kept falling out of bed and dropping her gobstopper. Becky nearly got knocked over by the elephants trunk.
I think I will always remember my week at Paignton Zoo because I got to feed the giraffes? bananas and they ate them whole, even the skin and stickers and I got to feed the elephants apples and I got to touch the baby giraffe called Kizlet.
******************************************************************
PAIGNTON RESIDENTIAL WEEK
by Melissa
I was really looking forward to going on my Paignton residential week. After the register we took our bags down to the coach and made our way to Paignton.
On our way to Paignton we stopped at Exeter service station and we had a play in the play area.
When we reached Paignton we went straight to the hotel to drop our bags off and then we got back on the coach and headed off to the zoo.
When we got to the zoo we walked to the restaurant for our lunch, which was sausage chips and beans. At the restaurant we met a man whose name was Keith and he told us not to flick pees or else we would have to clean up the whole place where our school was sitting. Apparently he says the same to every visiting school!
ZOO-TIME ACTIVITIES
On the first day at the zoo we did a zoo safari. We had to go around the zoo answering questions about the animals we came across.
On the second day we did some of our own animal research. I am studying the lion but I never got a picture of it because it was always under its shelter or behind the tree. We also studied animal habitats on the second day.
On the fourth day at the zoo we carried on doing our animal research.
OTHER DAY-TIME ACTIVITIES
On the third day we went to the natural history museum (and found out about life from the dawn of time) in the morning. In the afternoon we went to Kent's cavern where we found out that stalactites come from the ceilings and stagmites come from the ground and discovered more about life in the caves thousands of years ago.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
On the first evening we went to jungle fun, which was at the zoo. It was like a mini version of the time warp at the Milky Way. On the second evening we went to the Torbay Leisure Centre and many of us spent our time splashing Mr Reed. We had a teddy bear colouring competition and a draughts tounament. On the third evening we were meant to go to the zoo to make kites but the coach didn't turn up so we went to the pier and had some chips. We also visited the railway station and saw a steam engine.
THE HOTEL
The hotel was wonderful; the rooms were en-suite and very clean. The owners of the hotel were very polite and the little girl was very cute; her name was Josie. The meals were lovely.
I shared a room with Rebecca Hampshire and in the middle of the night I kept falling out of bed which was so funny.
I will always remember this trip forever and ever.
******************************************************************
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
***CHEETAHS***
Did you know?
The cheetah is the fastest of all land mammals, sprinting at up to 100km/h.
Females are solitary animals, whereas brothers may stay together in small groups.
They feed on various species of antelope, also hares, rodents and sometimes larger prey such as zebra.
They live for about twelve years in the wild but longer in captivity.
The cheetah is considered a vulnerable species; once widely shot for its fur, it now suffers more from loss of habitat and lack of prey.
The cheetah was trained by man for hunting as long ago as 3000BC.
Much of the cheetah's hunting is done during the day when other predators are resting.
A cheetah will first stalk a herd of animals, and at the right moment, will show itself and panic the animals into running; this is a totally different technique to most of the big cats, who lie in wait for their prey and then pounce when it is within range.
If forced to run for longer than a minute, a cheetah will often give up the chase for its prey.
Cheetahs were once raced against greyhounds in Harringay in London.
From standstill, a cheetah can reach its top speed in about three seconds.
Have you seen the cheetahs at Paignton Zoo? Our children have.
Paignton Zoo currently has four cheetahs: two sisters called Lulu and Sita-Johanna, both born on 11th May 1999 and two brothers called Cado and Tanzi, born on 25th November 1998.
'Lulu' means 'pearl' in Swahili (very light coloured animal); 'Sita' means 'six' and 'Johanna' means 'foster name'. The sisters arrived from Beekse-Bergen Safari Park, in the Netherlands, and were introduced to their new home in October 2000. Sita-Johanna and Lulu settled well into their new enclosure but they have now moved 'off show' to allow the male cheetahs to adapt to the enclosure. The two brothers, about the same age as Lulu and Sita, came from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, in fact the same Zoo as 'Kizi' the young Rothschild's giraffe.
In LITERACY HOUR we considered the arguments for and against Zoos. Children were asked to construct a reasoned argument before reaching a conclusion. Here are a few examples:
******************************************************************
SHOULD ZOOS BE ALLOWED?
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to explore both sides of the argument and then give my own opinion at the end.
Some people think that zoos are a good idea because people are allowed to watch and learn about the animals that they would never see otherwise. They can also provide a safe home for ill or rejected animals that would not be able to survive in the wild. Animals are conserved in a safe environment.
On the other hand some people think that zoos are a bad idea because they think that animals should not be kept in captivity. The animals might miss their wild habitat.
Weighing up both sides of the argument I think that zoos are a good idea because the animals are looked after well and they have quite big enclosures.
******************************************************************
ZOOS ? YES or NO?
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to explore both sides of the argument and then give my own opinion at the end.
Some people think that zoos are a good idea because people are allowed to watch and learn about the animals that they would never see otherwise. They can also provide a safe home for ill or rejected animals that would not be able to survive in the wild. Animals are conserved in a safe environment.
On the other hand some people think that zoos are a bad idea because they think that animals should not be kept in captivity. The animals might miss their wild habitat.
Weighing up both sides of the argument I think that zoos are a good idea because the animals are looked after well and they have quite big enclosures.
******************************************************************
SHOULD ZOOS BE ALLOWED?
Naomi H
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to try and explore both sides of the argument and come to my conclusion.
Argument for:
If we didn?t have a zoo a baby cub might not survive if it?s the mother?s
first born, and it won?t know how to feed it?s young. Zoos also allow people like us to watch and learn about animals. In the wild some creatures are dying out; zoos can help protect a species so they can be returned to the wild.
Argument against:
It is really quite cruel to put animals in zoos because they wont have any freedom. They are often put behind bars and might feel sad by having so little space.
Summing up:
My conclusion is to allow zoos as I think they do more good than bad.
******************************************************************
ZOOS: Should they be closed?
by Kathryn
INTRODUCTION: Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I am going to explore both sides of the argument and come to my own conclusion.
THE CASE FOR HAVING A ZOO: People can see lots of different animals and the animals need a safe place. Zoos help animal from becoming extinct and provide a place where people can see wild animals.
THE CASE AGAINST HAVING A ZOO: People think it is wrong to keep animals in cages. Animal may miss their family and they might become scared of visitors. They might become reliant on the keepers.
MY CONCLUSION: I think it is an excellent idea and I personally love to meet new animals.
*****************************************************************
MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT ZOOS SHOULD ALL BE CLOSED.
I am going to explore both sides of this argument and come to my own conclusion.
My first reason for having zoos is that people that live in town don?t often get the chance to see some of the birds and other animals that are in the zoos. My second reason is that people are able to learn about animals. My last reason is that the animals will get given as much food as they need and will be safe from all the dangers of life in the wild and therefore stand a greater chance of survival.
On the other hand there is a case for closing zoos:
My first reason for the zoos to be closed is that the animals cannot have young when they are not that happy with things. My second reason is that some people think that it is cruel to keep animals locked up. My last reason is that they might be frightened by the humans.
Overall I think it is a good idea to keep the zoos opens because the people like them, and they do good.
******************************************************************
ZOOS? SHOULD THEY EXIST?
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed. I'm going to explore both sides of the argument and come to my own conclusion.
In the zoo it is cruel to keep animals in closed areas.
I think the lions and other wild animals will depend on their keepers too much.
However, zoos help in the breeding of animals so they won't become extinct. If the dodo had been put in a zoo, it might still be around.
Therefore I think zoos are a good thing.
Jonathon Hedges
******************************************************************
THE CASE FOR AND AGAINST ZOOS
Introduction
Many people feel that zoos are cruel and should be closed.
I am going to explore both sides of the argument, then give my own opinion.
FOR ZOOS
Animals close to extinction can survive and breed in zoos.
You can see interesting animals that you might never see in the wild; you can learn more about animals there. It can be fascinating to see animals in very similar habitats to their wild environment.
AGAINST ZOOS
Animals are less likely to breed if they are unhappy. If you keep an animal caged up with nothing to stimulate them they will soon go quietly bonkers. If animals are looking unhappy, upset or unstimulated, zoos are going to have an increasingly high chance that you will have less visitors going to zoos.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion I think that zoos are a good ideas as long as the keepers keep the animals well stimulated and happy and in the right size enclosures.
******************************************************************
MEMORIES, MEMORIES, MEMORIES ....................................
PAIGNTON RESIDENTIAL WEEK
By Tom W.
I was in my bed wondering what would happen the next morning. Suddenly it was the next day and I found that I was on the way to one of the best trips ever! I was sitting next to Ryan Webber on the coach. We arrived at Paignton. The zoo awaited us?
When we got to the zoo we went to the restaurant and met Keith (the bean man). Once we had eaten our beans, and other food, we went on to the classroom at the zoo. We left our stuff there and went to the education centre where we had a lesson about the animals we would see at the zoo. Later we went off in groups and answered the work sheet. I was with Andrew, Naomi, Rebecca and Stephanie. That evening we went to the fun house called Jungle Fun.
On Tuesday we went to the education centre again. This time the theme was habitats like deserts, Polar Regions and tropical rainforests. We all went off in the same groups as before. With our groups we did a sheet called habitat. There were four sheets but sir was kind and let each group do one sheet each so that we could become experts in one particular habitat and share our findings afterwards. At twelve thirty we went to Jungle Fun for the second time as a treat. We were supposed to be there until 1 but we stayed until almost half past! When we got back to the hotel we had our tea. Everyone then had some free time. Then we got on the coach and went to the Torbay swimming pool. It was Boys vs Girls in a splash war. I was sir?s best friend for half an hour as everyone kept splashing him. Once we were off the coach we went downstairs to the hotel dinning room. That was when I had found out that my cap was gone. Sir then told us that we were going to start the games tournament. People who didn?t know how to play Othello (like me) watched Sir and Ryan play each other, as a demonstration. Then we all played draughts and Othello. Then it was bedtime.
On Wednesday we got ready like usual and had breakfast. We then got on the coach and went to the Torquay Natural History Museum; it was great. I found out things that were amazing about animals and evolution. We found out that Agatha Christie wrote loads of books. I was able to buy a belemnite in the gift shop. We travelled to Kent?s Cavern, where Stone Age people once lived. We had our packed lunch and then met our guide. In the caves our guide, Terry, turned the lights off. It was rather frightening! We saw stalagmite and stalactites and found more about life in the caves in the past In the gift. I got a bag of secret stones 2.50.Once we got back we had our tea (thankfully without beans!) One of the best bits of the trip was the teddy bear colouring in competition, when out teddies had to colour in pictures. Once that was done our teddies had their picture taken with the other bears. Then they drank their hot chocolate. Sir said ?Bed time!?. Thursday, the last day of our trip. Once we were ready we went off on and off we went to bed.
Thursday was our last trip to the zoo. We got our stuff from the classroom and did the last few jobs. We spent the morning studying our special animals. After our lunch we went to the gift shop and I brought a picture for a BARGAIN price! Also I got a dolphin key ring and if you squeeze it the eyes pop out. Then we stepped through the zoo entrance door for the very last time, returned to the hotel to collect we got our bags and said our last goodbyes.
Paignton Week - a trip to remember for ever!
******************************************************************
PAIGNTON MEMORIES by Rebecca H.
On Monday morning I was very excited. When we got to school we had to put our bags in the door way and at 9:15am we walked down to the coach. We stopped at an Exeter service station where we were allowed to go in a play area and have a run around.
When we got to the Paignton Court Hotel we dropped our bags off and went to the zoo. When we got to the zoo we went straight to the restaurant. When we went in, a man called Keith told us some of the rules of the restaurant. If we threw any food we had to clean the place where the school was sitting. He seemed very strict.
The first activity we did at the zoo was the zoo safari; we searched the zoo using a map, to help us find our way around. On Tuesday we did an adaptation to habitat worksheet and in the afternoon we went to the discovery centre.
On Wednesday we went to Kents Cavern. It was very good. On one of the walls on the cave it looked like a face. I really enjoyed it. Earlier we went to Torquay Natural History Museum.
On Monday evening we went to Jungle Fun it was really good. On Tuesday evening we went to the Torbay Leisure Centre. On Wednesday evening we were supposed to go kite making but the coach never arrived so we went for a walk in the rain, onto the pier and past the shops where we stopped for chips.
The Hotel was very nice; it was bright yellow and the bedrooms were really nice. Melissa and I shared a room and we had an en-suite bedroom. The food was really nice. The owners were called Sue & Keith and they had a daughter called Jocie.
The funniest moments were when Melissa kept falling out of bed and dropping her gobstopper. Becky nearly got knocked over by the elephants trunk.
I think I will always remember my week at Paignton Zoo because I got to feed the giraffes? bananas and they ate them whole, even the skin and stickers and I got to feed the elephants apples and I got to touch the baby giraffe called Kizlet.
******************************************************************
PAIGNTON RESIDENTIAL WEEK
by Melissa
I was really looking forward to going on my Paignton residential week. After the register we took our bags down to the coach and made our way to Paignton.
On our way to Paignton we stopped at Exeter service station and we had a play in the play area.
When we reached Paignton we went straight to the hotel to drop our bags off and then we got back on the coach and headed off to the zoo.
When we got to the zoo we walked to the restaurant for our lunch, which was sausage chips and beans. At the restaurant we met a man whose name was Keith and he told us not to flick pees or else we would have to clean up the whole place where our school was sitting. Apparently he says the same to every visiting school!
ZOO-TIME ACTIVITIES
On the first day at the zoo we did a zoo safari. We had to go around the zoo answering questions about the animals we came across.
On the second day we did some of our own animal research. I am studying the lion but I never got a picture of it because it was always under its shelter or behind the tree. We also studied animal habitats on the second day.
On the fourth day at the zoo we carried on doing our animal research.
OTHER DAY-TIME ACTIVITIES
On the third day we went to the natural history museum (and found out about life from the dawn of time) in the morning. In the afternoon we went to Kent's cavern where we found out that stalactites come from the ceilings and stagmites come from the ground and discovered more about life in the caves thousands of years ago.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
On the first evening we went to jungle fun, which was at the zoo. It was like a mini version of the time warp at the Milky Way. On the second evening we went to the Torbay Leisure Centre and many of us spent our time splashing Mr Reed. We had a teddy bear colouring competition and a draughts tounament. On the third evening we were meant to go to the zoo to make kites but the coach didn't turn up so we went to the pier and had some chips. We also visited the railway station and saw a steam engine.
THE HOTEL
The hotel was wonderful; the rooms were en-suite and very clean. The owners of the hotel were very polite and the little girl was very cute; her name was Josie. The meals were lovely.
I shared a room with Rebecca Hampshire and in the middle of the night I kept falling out of bed which was so funny.
I will always remember this trip forever and ever.
******************************************************************
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
***CHEETAHS***
Did you know?
The cheetah is the fastest of all land mammals, sprinting at up to 100km/h.
Females are solitary animals, whereas brothers may stay together in small groups.
They feed on various species of antelope, also hares, rodents and sometimes larger prey such as zebra.
They live for about twelve years in the wild but longer in captivity.
The cheetah is considered a vulnerable species; once widely shot for its fur, it now suffers more from loss of habitat and lack of prey.
The cheetah was trained by man for hunting as long ago as 3000BC.
Much of the cheetah's hunting is done during the day when other predators are resting.
A cheetah will first stalk a herd of animals, and at the right moment, will show itself and panic the animals into running; this is a totally different technique to most of the big cats, who lie in wait for their prey and then pounce when it is within range.
If forced to run for longer than a minute, a cheetah will often give up the chase for its prey.
Cheetahs were once raced against greyhounds in Harringay in London.
From standstill, a cheetah can reach its top speed in about three seconds.
Have you seen the cheetahs at Paignton Zoo? Our children have.
Paignton Zoo currently has four cheetahs: two sisters called Lulu and Sita-Johanna, both born on 11th May 1999 and two brothers called Cado and Tanzi, born on 25th November 1998.
'Lulu' means 'pearl' in Swahili (very light coloured animal); 'Sita' means 'six' and 'Johanna' means 'foster name'. The sisters arrived from Beekse-Bergen Safari Park, in the Netherlands, and were introduced to their new home in October 2000. Sita-Johanna and Lulu settled well into their new enclosure but they have now moved 'off show' to allow the male cheetahs to adapt to the enclosure. The two brothers, about the same age as Lulu and Sita, came from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, in fact the same Zoo as 'Kizi' the young Rothschild's giraffe.