Study: Cheetahs Become More Nocturnal on Hot Days as Climate Change Takes Toll 

In this photo provided by Briana Abrahms, a female cheetah and her cub sit watchfully in front of a herd of zebra in northern Botswana on Aug. 23, 2011. (Briana Abrahms via AP)
In this photo provided by Briana Abrahms, a female cheetah and her cub sit watchfully in front of a herd of zebra in northern Botswana on Aug. 23, 2011. (Briana Abrahms via AP)
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Study: Cheetahs Become More Nocturnal on Hot Days as Climate Change Takes Toll 

In this photo provided by Briana Abrahms, a female cheetah and her cub sit watchfully in front of a herd of zebra in northern Botswana on Aug. 23, 2011. (Briana Abrahms via AP)
In this photo provided by Briana Abrahms, a female cheetah and her cub sit watchfully in front of a herd of zebra in northern Botswana on Aug. 23, 2011. (Briana Abrahms via AP)

Cheetahs are usually daytime hunters, but the speedy big cats will shift their activity toward dawn and dusk hours during warmer weather, a new study finds.

Unfortunately for endangered cheetahs, that sets them up for more potential conflicts with mostly nocturnal competing predators such as lions and leopards, say the authors of research published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

“Changing temperatures can impact the behavior patterns of large carnivore species and also the dynamics among species,” said University of Washington biologist Briana Abrahms, a study co-author.

While cheetahs only eat fresh meat, lions and leopards will sometimes opportunistically scavenge from smaller predators.

“Lions and leopards normally kill prey themselves, but if they come across a cheetah’s kill, they will try to take it,” said Bettina Wachter, a behavioral biologist who leads the Cheetah Research Project at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research.

“The cheetahs will not fight the larger cats, they will just leave,” said Wachter, who is based in Namibia and was not involved in the study.

Hunting at different times of the day is one long-evolved strategy to reduce encounters between the multiple predator species that share northern Botswana’s mixed savannah and forest landscape.

But the new study found that on the hottest days, when maximum daily temperatures soared to nearly 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), cheetahs became more nocturnal — increasing their overlapping hunting hours with rival big cats by 16%.

“There’s a greater chance for more unfriendly encounters and less food for the cheetahs,” said co-author Kasim Rafiq, a biologist at the University of Washington and the nonprofit Botswana Predator Conservation Trust.

For the current study, researchers placed GPS tracking collars on 53 large carnivores — including cheetahs, lions, leopards and African wild dogs — and recorded their locations and hours of activity over eight years. They compared this data with maximum daily temperature records.

While seasonal cycles explain most temperature fluctuations in the study window of 2011 to 2018, the scientists say the observed behavior changes offer a peek into the future of a warming world.

In the next phase of research, the scientists plan to use audio-recording devices and accelerometers — “like a Fitbit for big cats,” said Rafiq — to document the frequency of encounters between large carnivores.

In addition to competition with lions and leopards, cheetahs already face severe pressure from habitat fragmentation and conflict with humans.

The fastest land animal, cheetahs are the rarest big cat in Africa, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild.

“These climate changes could become really critical if we look into the future — it's predicted to become much warmer in this part of Africa where cheetahs live, in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia,” said Wachter of the Cheetah Research Project.



Riyadh Season 2025 Breaks Record with 20 Million Visitors

Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)
Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)
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Riyadh Season 2025 Breaks Record with 20 Million Visitors

Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)
Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)

Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman of the board of directors Advisor Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Al-Sheikh announced that the fifth annual Riyadh Season has received a record-breaking 20 million visitors, marking an unprecedented milestone since the event’s inception in 2019, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

Riyadh Season has solidified its reputation as a global entertainment hub, drawing visitors from across the Kingdom and beyond. Popular destinations such as Boulevard World, Boulevard City, and Boulevard Runway have seen particularly high foot traffic, offering a diverse range of artistic performances, international games, fine-dining experiences, and immersive cultural exhibits.

The mild winter weather and public holidays have further fueled attendance, with adventure seekers flocking to the Dunes of Arabia for camping and outdoor activities. Meanwhile, the "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams" exhibition at the Saudi National Museum has captivated fashion and art enthusiasts. The Groves has also emerged as a prime attraction, featuring international cuisine, live music, and a unique ambiance.

Additionally, major sporting events—including boxing matches, martial arts competitions, and padel tournaments—have drawn significant crowds, alongside concerts featuring renowned artists from around the world.

Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination.