The secret is to rotate unexpectedly at the last minute, when the predator is very close.
The cheetah is the fastest land animal in existence, as it can reach speeds ranging from 95 to 115 kilometres per hour. That characteristic makes him a relentless predator. But despite this, he is not always able to hunt down his prey. There are times when impala and zebras manage to escape from their claws. But how can they do it if they're not so fast?
The answer was found by a team from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. The researchers took muscle samples from these animals and found that the cheetahs' muscles were 20% stronger and 37% more able to accelerate than their prey. That means the trick wasn't in speed.
And what they discovered is that both impala and zebras use a curious strategy to try to escape from the cheetahs. They run at a slower speed than he does, and when they notice he's too close, they spin sharply, going out of their way. The cheetah is not so responsive, and that's why, on occasion, this clever game of unimpeded twists makes the prey manage to escape and escape unharmed.