A recent report just revealed that there are only 7,100 cheetahs left on the planet.
The study, which was published in PNAS, states that world’s fastest mammal is headed towards in extinction mainly due to human conflict and the fact that their range extends well outside protected areas. In fact, 77% of the cheetah’s habitat falls outside these areas.
What’s more, the report also shared that the cheetah has been forced out of 91% of its historic range. The Asiatic cheetah is of the most concern — there are only 50 individuals left in one secluded area in Iran.
Image: CC0 public domain
The pet trade is also a significant problem; Because of the rising demand for the “luxury” pets in the Middle East, cubs are taken from their mothers and are shipped by the dozens to the Gulf states. It’s estimated that two-thirds of them die in transit.
Cheetahs are also heavily traded for their skins and coats — cheetah skin shoes are a popular high-end item in Sudan.
Understandably, scientists are now calling for the uplisting from ‘Vulnerable’ to ‘Endangered’ to give the irreplaceable animal additional protection and funding.
Image: CC0 public domain
Lead author of the study, Sarah Durant of Zoological society of London (ZSL), was quoted in a Panthera press release:”Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked.” She continued, “Our findings show that the large space requirements for cheetah, coupled with the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild, mean that it is likely to be much more vulnerable to extinction than was previously thought.”
It’s clear that this extraordinary species is desperately in need of protection. To explore different ways to help cheetahs, visit Panthera.
