Like all cheetahs, the Saharan cheetah is the fastest land animal on Earth, able to sprint at up to 120 kilometres per hour. But a sprint like that uses a huge amount of energy and the cheetah can only keep it up for about 20 to 30 seconds. After a chase, it needs to rest for up to 30 minutes before it can eat — it is simply too out of breath to start straight away.
Saharan cheetahs have adapted cleverly to desert life. They can go without drinking water for much longer than most animals, getting the moisture they need from the prey they eat. They tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, avoiding the hottest part of the day, and they often rest in the shade of rocks or bushes during midday.
Because they are so rare and shy, scientists study Saharan cheetahs mostly using camera traps — cameras set up in the desert that automatically take a photo when an animal walks past. Each cheetah has its own unique pattern of spots, like a fingerprint, so researchers can tell individuals apart from the photos. Chad's desert is one of the last strongholds for this rare cat.