“Survivors” is an oil painting showing two orphaned cheetah cubs from Namibia who were rescued soon after their mother was trapped by a farmer. Their little faces depict the sadness, fear and uncertainty the future holds for them.

Original oil painting on canvas: 20 × 30 inches (original sold)

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on earth, reaching speeds of up to 100 kph (70mph). Beautiful and sleek, they are the smallest of the big cats and their prey is often stolen by other predators.

Highly threatened, these animals are in great need of protection. They need plenty of space for hunting and that space is steadily being reduced by human expansion.

Out of all the big cats, the cheetah is the least able to adapt to new environments. It has always proved difficult to breed in captivity, although recently a few zoos have managed to succeed at this. Once widely hunted for its fur, the cheetah now suffers more from the loss of both habitat and prey.

For more facts about cheetahs, please visit http://www.cheetah.org and http://www.dewildt.org.za/index.htm

Wildlife, landscapes and Irish Life paintings by Avril Brand

Clare Art Blog