Where do cheetahs come from?
Geography: Cheetahs are found primarily in the eastern and southern ranges of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Small populations of cheetahs can be found in North Africa and Iran.
What is the cause of the cheetah conflict with farmers?
Cost of Conflict to Humans. Cheetahs enter into conflict with humans due to their potential to predate on livestock animals as well as exotic species found on game farms. Human-cheetah conflict is often prominent in areas where natural prey numbers are low and measures to protect livestock are inadequate.
Why does a cheetah have a high mortality rate?
Cheetah cubs apparently have a high mortality rate, which may be related to genetic diversity issues. In one study of captive born cheetahs, 29% of the cubs died within six months and only half reached adulthood — an infant mortality rate far higher than most other animal species studied.
How are cheetahs on the brink of extinction?
Genetic analysis of wild cheetahs shows they may have survived two historical bottlenecks, events that sharply reduce the size of a population. When this happens, the few remaining individuals end up inbreeding, or mating with relatives.
What are the signs of inbreeding in Cheetahs?
In inbred populations, skin grafts are easily accepted by individuals unrelated to the donor. This occurs among cheetahs, suggesting they have lost some genetic diversity. Another sign of inbreeding is asymmetrical skull development. In inbred animals, the skull is more asymmetrically shaped.
Are there any cheetahs left in the world?
Today, cheetahs are found in the wild in several locations in Africa and a small portion of Iran. Scientists estimate that fewer than 8,000 African cheetahs are living in the wild and that there may be fewer than 50 Asian cheetahs left in the world. Cheetahs today are heading toward extinction.