Ecology and Conservation

(Acinonyx jubatus)

PopulationNOT EVALUATED

[NE]DATADEFICIENT

[DD]LEAST CONCERN

[LC]NEAR THREATENED

[NT]

VULNERABLE[VU]

ENDANGERED[EN]

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

[CR]EXTINCT IN THE WILD

[EW]

EXTINCT[EX]

CONSERVATIONSTATUS

Estimated 6,700 surviving individuals (IUCN, 2015)

Eastern<2000

Southern>4000

Western, Central & Northern<500

Majority of surviving population

found in Southern region of Africa

Less than 500 found in non-African

countries

The ‘Asiatic cheetah’ is

critically endangered

Iran>70

Not to Scale

Biology of the Cheetah

Evolved for speed over aggression

Rely on speed and skill to

survive

Can reach their top speed of

70mph in 3 seconds

Threats & Solutions

Media influence

Anti-poaching laws

Wildlife reserves

Land preserved for cheetah’s-

protection from humans

Breeding programmes

Conflict with humans

Loss of habitat as a result of

human encroachment

Decline in amount of

prey

Cub mortality as a result of

carnivore predators

Inbreeding

Gene Pools• Genes are a major is-sue for the cheetah

• After the ice age 10,000 years ago cheetahs managed to survive

• Despite a rebound reaching 100,000, ge-netic diversity was and is lacking• Research shows the cheetah gene

pool sharing similarities to highly-inbred mice• They repopulated from

such a small population• All cheetahs have 80%

similarity,99% if related• This puts cheetah’s at

great risk, asingle illness could wipe out the population

• Captive breeding and protection is essen-tial

• Diversity is attempting to be implemented through captive breeding

Conservation

An interesting method of conservation for cheetahs is to pair the species with dogs

One way to fulfil the cheetah’s instincts is

by staging a hunt

Additionally, ‘boomer balls’ are also used so animals can stalk and pounce on to satisfy

urges