Cheetahs are excellent hunters. First of all, they approach their prey very carefully until they are only a few meters away, then, when the right moment comes, they run at lightning speed. If the prey suddenly changes direction, the cheetah can simply turn its body mid-leap. Its flexible spine gives it this ability. However, if it is not successful after a few hundred meters, it has to give up. The high speed burns so much energy that it can only be maintained for a short distance.