The world celebrates International Cheetah Day on Dec. 4, and these spectacular cats are definitely deserving. Gorgeous, speedy and in short supply, these animals need our attention today and every day.

Swipe through to learn why we love this beautiful animal.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the cheetah as “vulnerable,” meaning they face a high risk of extinction. Loss of habitat and poaching are among the reasons for the cats’ demise. Fewer than 7,000 cheetahs remain in the wild, but several organizations are working on innovative solutions to save the duma, which means cheetah in Swahili.

Cheetahs live primarily in eastern and southern Africa — countries like Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. A few cheetah populations live in Iran. The cats prefer open grassland, but are sometimes found in dry forests, open woodlands, rocky mountains, and the desert.

Because their bursts of speed are so short-lived, cheetahs must time their strikes perfectly. Lone adults–which each 6.2 pounds of meat per day—might hunt every two to five days, but a female with cubs might make a kill daily. They eat small antelope, game birds and rabbits. They also eat juvenile warthog and wildebeest.

Cheetahs have evolved to live in a dry environment, and need to drink only once every four days. They can even go for as many as 10 days without a drink of water. They get some of the water they need from their prey, and when they need more, cheetahs drink from rivers and streams.

The cheetah’s distinctive spots add to its allure, and sadly, to the desire of poachers to kill the animal for its coat. The spots are thought to help it blend in with the tall grasses of its homeland. While most cheetahs look the same, occasionally a rare spotless cheetah is seen, and there is a small population of cheetahs in South Africa and Zimbabwe whose spots are bigger than typical cheetah spots.

Cheetahs are the fastest mammal on Earth. Sprinting at speeds up to 70 mph, they can go from 0 to 60 in just 3 seconds. They can only run at top speeds for 30 seconds, however, before needing to rest. At a slower pace—30 to 40 mph—they can run for as long as 30 minutes.

Cheetahs can’t roar. They’re masters at purring, however. They purr when they’re content but also when they’re stressed or injured; it’s a way for them to soothe themselves and calm down. These cats also chirp, moan, hiss and click as forms of communication.