Pacing cheetah has me in her sights.Cheetahs are carnivores of the cat family, Acinonyx jubatus, native to Africa and SW Asia. Formerly numerous all over their range, they are nearly extinct now in Asia and are threatened in all of their range. The cheetah's method of hunting deviates from that of most cats in that it runs down its prey, rather than stalking it and pouncing upon it for the kill. Cheetahs are the fastest land animal, and can achieve bursts of speed of over 60 mph and is the only animal capable of running down black bucks and gazelles. What gorgeous, sleek, powerful cats they are. ENDANGERED Dallas, Zoo.