Locomotion dynamics of hunting in wild cheetahs

This landmark study fitted free-ranging cheetahs in Botswana with custom solar-powered GPS-IMU collars logging position, acceleration, and turning at high frequency during real hunts. Rather than confirming the textbook image of pure top-end speed, the data showed that successful hunts hinge on extreme manoeuvrability: cheetahs typically ran well below their maximum capability, then used powerful deceleration and tight, banked turns to match prey evasion. Peak measured accelerations and decelerations exceeded those of polo horses, and grip from semi-retractable claws and pad friction set the cornering limits. The work reframed the cheetah as an agility specialist whose hunting success depends on rapid speed changes and trajectory control, not just straight-line velocity. It remains a touchstone for how biologging transformed our understanding of predator pursuit biomechanics in the wild.