Cheetahs are the fastest runners (60mph) on the planet. 

Using a Phantom camera filming at 1200 frames per second while zooming beside a sprinting cheetah, this team captured every nuance of the cat’s movement as it reached top speeds of 60+ miles per hour.

The extraordinary footage that follows is a compilation of multiple runs by five cheetahs during three days of filming.

Ed Notes: 

1. for a full screen image (very very highly recommended) click on the 4 arrows at the lower right hand side of the video (beside  HD) below.

2. An amazing slow motion shot of the Cheetah almost catching its prey claws extended at the 2:25 mark.

3. To see the Cheetah running at an astonishing 60mph and capturing its prey go to minute 6:10 forward. 

Update: Turns out multiple youtube presentations have caused National Geographic to take down the video I had posted here. You can go to the National Geographic site here – Cheetahs on the Edge–Director’s Cut from Gregory Wilson on Vimeo.