Introduction and Ecological DescriptionThe scientific name of Cheetah is Acinonyx jubatus. Their natural habitat is primarily in sub-Saharan Africa with a small population left in Iran. The Cheetah prefers to live in an open biome, which is semi-desert, savanna, and thick brush, like the Serengeti in Tanzania. The largest wild population of Cheetahs is found in Namibia (CCF, 2009).
The Cheetah’s anatomy consists of a long, streamlined body with long, powerful legs and light bones. The Cheetah is a fast, aerodynamic hunting cat and can reach speeds of 70 mph, making it the fastest animal on land. The Cheetah chases its prey at high speed, using its long muscular tail to balance the body, especially when changing directions and making quick turns at high speed. As they can only maintain that high speed for about 200-300 yards, or about 20 seconds, they still rely on getting close enough to the prey before giving chase. The Cheetah had to develop the ability to run fast, faster than its prey – a specific trait in order to survive among other land predators (Cheetah Outreach, 2009).
Summary of the Problem
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) classifies the Cheetah as vulnerable, with the African sub-species as endangered, as per Appendix 1 of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, 2009). The Asian Cheetah is on the brink of extinction with small populations remaining only in Iran, with a total number between 70-100 individuals. In Africa there are only 7,500 Cheetahs left. Because of growing human populations and the increase of demand of natural resources, the world is losing many wild places and species (Cheetah Outreach, 2009).
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) classifies the Cheetah as vulnerable, with the African sub-species as endangered, as per Appendix 1 of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, 2009). The Asian Cheetah is on the brink of extinction with small populations remaining only in Iran, with a total number between 70-100 individuals. In Africa there are only 7,500 Cheetahs left. Because of growing human populations and the increase of demand of natural resources, the world is losing many wild places and species (Cheetah Outreach, 2009).
Cheetahs are wild animals and the capture of wild Cheetahs threatens the survival of the species because the removal of individuals reduces genetic diversity in the wild. They have special dietary requirements and special needs, even with the tamed and captive-raised animals the wild instincts of the Cheetah remains intact. Another fact is that Cheetahs do not breed well in captivity (parks and reserves); new research explains one reason what makes breeding so difficult: Female Cheetahs lack a regular reproductive cycle, and the discovery scientists observed is that a stutter-bark of the male triggers the female reproductive hormones responsible for ovulation, much unlike other cat species (National Geographic, 2009). Moreover, the Cheetah faces competition from other predators such as lions and hyenas in the form of direct predation on cubs, occasional killing of adults, and loss of kills. As a result, more Cheetahs live outside protected areas where they come into conflict with farmers (Cheetah Outreach, 2009).
In Namibia, Cheetahs share open space on farmland as their habitat becomes more and more limited as well as their food supply. In the last decade, thousands have been hunted and killed by farmers as the wild hunting cat also preys on farmer’s livestock. Even that Cheetah is a protected species, and there are enacted laws, there is no enforcement to protect the Cheetah killed by farmers who are worried about their livestock.
History of the Problem
The ever expanding human population which is limiting the space for all wildlife is probably the major factor the Cheetah is pushed toward extinction. Sport hunting could also be considered a reason in affecting wild Cheetah populations as the animal is killed for its pelt (Mulheisen, 2001).
The ever expanding human population which is limiting the space for all wildlife is probably the major factor the Cheetah is pushed toward extinction. Sport hunting could also be considered a reason in affecting wild Cheetah populations as the animal is killed for its pelt (Mulheisen, 2001).
Unfortunately, there are policy discussions under way which would allow trophy hunting in Namibia which supposedly would result in farmers killing fewer Cheetahs in order to have these available for highly paid trophy hunters. This proposed procedure should decrease farmers killing Cheetahs and would exhibit a potential source of income for farmers (Bright, 1997).
The commercial farmers and ranchers see the Cheetah primarily as a threat to their livestock. Many farmers shoot Cheetah as a preventative measure for protecting their livestock, especially during livestock calving season. Inaccurate reports and statistics make it difficult to define the extent to which farmers are reducing the Cheetah population.
In some countries in Africa, limited hunting of Cheetahs is allowed. Namibia, for example, offers profitable hunting safaris in high Cheetah population areas, raising the chances of killing a Cheetah. International treaties such as CITES do not have enforcement powers. Penalties only occur in some countries under laws, such the Endangered Species Act of the United States (CCF, 2009).
References
African Wildlife Foundation (2009). 20 April 2009
Bright, Patricia and Balint, Peter. A New Conservation Strategy for the Namibian Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) (1997). 25 April 2009
Cheetah Conservation Fund. Introduction to the Cheetah (2009). 11 April 2009
Cheetah Outreach (2008). 22 April 2009
National Geographic. Cheetah (2009). 20 April 2009
