Cheetahs

"I'm a cheetah. Cheetahs don't get worn out."

- Fuli, The Search for Utamu

Cheetahs are felines that appear in The Lion Guard universe. They live in the Pride Lands.

In the Real World
Cheetahs are large-sized felines with slim builds and long limbs. In comparison to the leopard, they are somewhat short-bodied, though they are taller and more streamlined. Their fur is colored a light gold and spotted with black splotches, usually 2 or 3 centimeters across. Their underside, however, is white and has no spots. Adults can grow to be up to 94 centimeters high and 135 centimeters long. Cheetahs averagely weigh in-between 36 and 65 kilograms.

In The Lion Guard
The only cheetah in The Lion Guard so far is Fuli, who is bright yellow in color, with some large brown rosette spots as well as other markings. She lacks the markings beneath her eyes that real cheetahs have.

Information
Cheetahs have a wide range among Africa and southwestern Asia. They require a large amount of space as well as consistent access to a steady prey source. Though somewhat picky about their habitat, cheetahs have been known to live in a variety of different environments, such as grasslands, the open savanna, and mountainous areas.

Cheetahs, particularly females, are solitary creatures and require their own territory. Females tend to live on their own, with the exception of raising cubs, while males commonly form small groups, called "coalitions." When raising cubs, a mother will stay with her offspring for about eighteen months in order to teach them how to hunt and fight. After eighteen months, she will leave them and they will live together for another six months in a sibling group. After six months, the female cubs will leave the group and the males will stick together for life.

The cheetah is by far the fastest land animal, able to reach speeds of 70mph and more in a short burst. They are sprinters that can cover up to 1,600 feet in one sprint and can go from 0 to 100mph in about three seconds. But despite their natural ability in running, their stamina is quite low.

Only one chase in three ends up as a meal for cheetahs. This is because hyenas and lions can steal their kill.

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
When Kion the lion cub becomes the leader of the Lion Guard, he recruits his friend Fuli the cheetah as the group's fastest member. Simba at first doesn't approve, but Fuli and the rest of the Guard prove their worth by fighting away Janja's clan and driving them out of the Pride Lands.

The Lion Guard
Fuli the cheetah appears in every episode of the show.

Fuli's New Family
Timon asks Fuli if she's going to go eat with her cheetah family. She responds that female cheetahs hunt alone, and Timon, believing her words to be the saddest he's ever heard, insists that she has dinner with him and his family.

The Search for Utamu
In response to Kion's worries about her overexerting herself, Fuli tells him that cheetahs don't get worn out. Ono begins to correct her, explaining that cheetahs actually do get worn out, but when she glares at him, he contradicts himself.

Later, as Fuli rests, Mzingo's committee spots her. Mzingo remarks that she doesn't seem to be aware of a cheetah's limits, and Mwoga wonders if she knows that cheetahs can only go for so long without tiring.

Notable Cheetahs in The Lion Guard

 * Fuli
 * Male Cheetah

Trivia

 * Cheetahs are featured in two It’s UnBungalievable! shorts, Who's Quicker? and Who's Cuter?
 * Cheetahs wear they prey out with a chase before chowing down.