Heathcliff the cheetah, resting under the shade of a tree, displays grace and power. But behind the wire fence that confines him, Heathcliff may represent the only future for cheetahs as their numbers continue to dwindle in the wild.
A recent study revealed that just 7,100 adult cheetahs remain in the wild, putting the species at serious risk of extinction unless new protective measures are implemented swiftly.
Around 100 cheetahs live in large enclosures within a scrubland environment at the De Wildt Cheetah Center, located outside Pretoria.
Once abundant, with a population of about 100,000 a century ago, cheetahs are now critically endangered due to the rapid loss of their natural habitats.
According to the study, cheetahs have lost 90% of their habitat, largely due to the expansion of human populations.
As their territories shrink, cheetahs come into greater contact with humans, leading to conflicts where farmers shoot them to protect livestock or become caught in snares set for other animals. Additionally, their cubs are often trafficked illegally as exotic pets, especially in Gulf countries.
“Cheetahs are often overlooked when it comes to species facing extinction. It’s alarming to see how their numbers have dropped,” said Rita Groenewald, a conservation education expert at the De Wildt Centre.
“This report sheds light on the severity of the situation, which many people don’t realize. We could lose the wild population within just a generation or two. Education is key, especially in schools, hunting groups, and disadvantaged communities.”
Cheetahs don’t adapt well to life in protected reserves because they cover vast distances in search of prey.
Also, eagles, lions, and hyenas often prey upon their cubs. As a result, the majority of cheetahs live outside of protected areas.
Laurie Marker, co-author of the study and a leading expert on cheetahs emphasized the need for innovative solutions that allow cheetahs to coexist with humans.
“There is hope,” she said, speaking from her research base in Namibia. “We need to develop programs that support cheetah survival alongside people.”
Marker has introduced strategies to reduce cheetah killings by farmers, including better livestock management and using Anatolian shepherd dogs.
These large, protective dogs live with cattle herds and deter cheetahs, encouraging them to return to hunting in the wild.
For Marker, the possibility of losing cheetahs in the wild is heartbreaking. “They are the embodiment of speed and elegance,” she said. “There’s nothing else like them in the animal kingdom.”
Most of the remaining wild cheetahs are found in Africa, with a small population of fewer than 50 in Iran.
Most of the population resides in Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique.
One of the most alarming findings in the report from the Zoological Society of London and the Wildlife Conservation Society was that Zimbabwe’s cheetah population has plummeted by over 85% in the last 16 years, leaving only 170 individuals.
The report’s authors urged the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to reclassify cheetahs from “vulnerable” to “endangered,” which would increase conservation efforts and funding for the species.
Cheetahs require vast territories, with some covering up to 3,000 square kilometers in search of food.
These wide ranges differ from the enclosed habitats at conservation centers like De Wildt, where cheetahs are bred to preserve genetic diversity but lack the survival skills needed to be released into the wild.
For now, Heathcliff, a seven-year-old cheetah, will continue to live safely within the center, admired by visitors, but far removed from the open plains where cheetahs once roamed freely.
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