King cheetahs are variety of cheetahs with a rare mutation caused by a recessive allele. Their cream-colored fur are marked with large, blotchy spots and three dark, wide stripes extend from the neck to the tail.

Just to clarify the genetic terminology a bit: a mutation occurs IN an allele, not BY the allele.

An allele is just an alternative version of a gene arising from mutation. In diploid organisms a gene has two copies, one on each chromosome. Two alleles. One from mom, one from dad. Usually.

Enough with the basic lingo of genetics, now on with the racing stripes and Adidas jokes!

Hi I love cheetahs, and so should you!

If anyone saw this picture and got curious, I have a small amount of experience that might help answer some questions that might arise in this thread:

> **Do King Cheetahs happen naturally?**

Yes, though they are extremely rare in natural habitats and most photos are from captive-born cheetahs.

> **Is this a picture from a Tiger King situation?**

No. Or, *most likely* no. Cheetahs are/were notoriously difficult to breed in captivity and lack the cultural/practical conditions that would lead to people privately owning a bunch of them, especially in America. Most demand for them is as individual pets on the black market, not as large scale operations- I’ll get to this later.

> **So why is it on a leash?**

For animals like lions or tigers, it’s common to see pictures of somebody walking one on a leash. Most photos like this are from “pet-a-tiger” places, this is irresponsible and should not be done at reputable zoological facilities.

However, in the case of cheetahs specifically, this can actually be done quite safely and can be an effective part of responsible training for the benefit of the cheetah and the keepers. It has to be done correctly by trained zoological staff, but leash-training for cheetahs is not inherently bad, and often is quite good.

This picture looks like an ambassador cheetah demonstration, but even without public display, having them leash-trained is an effective strategy for increasing their overall quality of care just like it would be for leash-training your dog.

> **Do many people have pet cheetahs?**

Very very very few people have “pet” cheetahs= unfortunately, there are also very, very, very few cheetahs left on the planet.

Right now, likely the **number one threat to cheetahs** is the illegal demand for them as private pets on the black market. This market is mostly fueled by a very tiny population of ultra-wealthy Middle Eastern individuals, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and forms a direct chain of poachers, smugglers, and middlemen. It is a very real problem.

Direct hunting used to be the number one threat by far, and it still does happen, but in the past 20 years such killings have drastically decreased thanks to community engagement and education programs.

> **How can I help cheetahs?**

Glad you asked! It’s impossible to sing enough praises to [The Cheetah Conservation Fund](https://cheetah.org/about/what-we-do/conservation/)- without their center in Namibia, cheetahs literally might be extinct in the wild right now, and their strategies are model examples of effective longterm conservation of carnivores.

You can help directly through their [Amazon Wishlists](https://cheetah.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/wishlist/) or by [sponsoring individual cheetahs.](https://cheetah.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/sponsor/)

If anyone wants to talk more about cheetahs, I visited the Cheetah Fund last year and did an internship as a cheetah keeper this past Winter. Both experiences were lifechanging and the more people are excited about cheetahs, the better!

Adidas cheetah

Race stripes!

That’s 10 extra horsepower right there with the racing stripes

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheetah#King_cheetah

This made me realize: in Transformers Beast Wars, Cheetor turns into this somewhat freaky looking primal cheetah. Today, I learned that ~~Primal~~ Transmetal 2 Cheetor is a real thing.

More fun facts! For a while the King Cheeta was thought to be its own extremely rare subspecies, not just a genetic mutation.

Ngl cheetahs are the most beautiful and elegant predators on land

Looks like he’s got the slav squat down as well, pass the vodka and cigarettes

If we’re going by human history, *time to inbreed them because they look cool*

TRIIIIII POLOSKI

*Well I didnt vote for him*

For educational purposes:

A mutation *in* the allele caused this. A mutation cannot be caused by an allele, as mutations are the cause of the change.

This is especially cool, because cheetahs have a very low diversity compared to other species, probably due to them nearly going extinct a long time ago

Cheeto

He’s just a allele different 🙂

Slav cat

Unfortunately for them, king cheetahs are extremely prone to overheating. That is why they are so rarely seen in the wild and are more common in cheetah sanctuary’s and zoo settings.

What does this do for their camo?

I can has crown?

The monster trademarking is starting to get out of control.

And a fantastic mullet

I like my cheetahs with racing stripes.

Dida cheetah

Aditahs

is this Kgosi from Sonoma County?

So this is where Adidas got the three stripe logo 😂

Racing stripes, they add a few horsepower.

RACING STRIPES!!

This advertising is getting ridiculous.

Sponsored.

Monster energy cat

Racing stripes, fool.

Acheetahs

Looks like it was racing a truck and lost.

Where can I get Nike cheetah?

Those are clearly racing stripes

/r/RealLifeShinies

Bet those racing stripes add extra HP

Tri poloski

damn someones camping the rare cheetah spawn point.

Racing stripes.

It looks like those creatures from half life that squirt green acid at you from incredible distances.

*Hardbass intensifies*

Do they also squat?

Limited collection Adidas x Puma

This cheetah is looking at you like he’s watching you read this and is worried you’re judging him

It also has a mullet

And, like all cats, they rest their butthole everywhere they sit.