The cheetah is able to outrun any animal on earth. The graceful hunter once roamed large parts of Africa and Asia. Today the speedy feline struggles with human intervention, loss of habitat, a limited genetic variety and lack of prey. While Cheetahs are critically endangered in Northern Africa and Asia, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is still one of the best locations to view this big cat. The large conservation area is also the study site for the Kgalagadi Cheetah Project.

Today cheetahs occur in conservation areas in Southern and Eastern Africa. Because cheetah populations are geographically isolated from each other, a lack in genetic diversity is a considerable problem. The cheetah needs vast open areas with abundant prey to hunt successfully. The pristine conservation area of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the few areas, where this vulnerable species can live under natural conditions and exhibit its full range of behaviour. Little is known about this specific population as of yet, but the Kgalagadi Cheetah Project has fitted animals with radio collars, collected genetic material and sent out San trackers to gather information about this unique feline.

The Kgalagadi Cheetah Project is still in the process of collecting data on the South African side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Photographs taken by researchers and tourists suggest an estimated number of 80 cheetahs in research area. Cheetahs can be recognized by their unique coat patters, much like fingerprints in humans. The research which is headed by Gus Mills of the Lewis Foundation follows several objectives:

• Determine population size and demographics.
• Feeding ecology
• Land tenure system and how it is influenced by the dispersion pattern of food.
• Mating system and factors that influence reproductive success
• Genetic status of the population
• Identify the most important limiting factors on the population, including human induced factors and to make recommendations as to the sustainable management of the population.

The project started in 2006 and research will continue for another year.

Cheetah Facts

• The cheetah is the fastest land animal reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h
• Cheetahs cannot roar
• It is the only cat with non-retractable claws
• The only remaining population of Asiatic cheetah lives in the central plateau of Iran and consist of about 100 animals

Support the Kgalagadi Cheetah Project

Gus Mills and his team are still building their photographic database. If you have seen and photographed cheetahs in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park send an email to census@sanparks.org. Images of cheetahs standing sideways are ideal for identification. Information about the date, location and number of animals will help the research immensely.

Related posts: