Cheetahs in Zoos

With the fall of cheetah population numbers due to fellow predator competition and human persecution, cheetah numbers are only estimated between 12,000-15,000. With these animals now endangered, it is vital for there to be cheetahs in zoos. In zoos, scientists are able to advance their knowledge on cheetah reproduction rates and how to improve their health. This is necessary for zoo cheetahs are the way we can help wild individuals bounce back. However, there exists problems with cheetahs in captivity.

Cheetahs are one of the most popular and well loved zoo animals. Many serve as "animal ambassadors" that represent their species and why they should be protected. As famous as these cats are, problems exist with cheetahs in captivity. One problem is cheetah breeding and reproduction. Due to unique breeding tendencies that cheetahs possess, difficulties are common. Along with breeding behavior, social conduct among cheetahs makes intersexual contact hard. Male cheetahs typically live in small social groups whereas females are solitary and very particular in who they will select as a mate. Bringing the sexes together is a touchy situation that must be handled with caution. However, many zoos themselves are historically a major factor in why cheetahs aren't propagating well. The many undocumented behaviors around cheetah breeding and husbandry lacking greatly are parts of why cheetahs have problems producing more young, not necessarily because of genetics. Lastly, cheetahs are prone to health issues, both genetically and acquired, so trying to handle maintaining and adding numbers to the shaky cheetah population is a difficult task.

With problems abound, actions are being taken to alleviate these issues. Artificial insemination, or injecting the cryopreserved sperm of a Namibian male cheetah into a captive female, has improved the genetics of the population. Breeding and husbandry management in zoos is also being improved with a focus on how to increase cub production and survival rates as well as how to recognize the relationship between cheetah age coinciding with sexual maturity. Finally, improving the knowledge on how to treat kidney disease, a prominent issue with cheetah health, along with finding ways to eliminate stress in cheetahs in order to allow them to live happier and healthier lives are steps being taken to improve cheetah health.

With zoo cheetah population being monitored in an international studbook, which contains information on gender, parental origin, date of birth, and location on every zoo-registered cheetah in the world, it is clear that the task of maintaining and helping the cheetah population rebound is being taken much more seriously. Zoo cheetah study is important if the entire species is going to be able to make it. Important leaps in medical and social knowledge of these animals are being discovered frequently. If the zoological world continues down this path, great things are going to come out of it.



Works Cited:

Cheetah Conservation - National Zoo| FONZ. Cheetah Conservation - National Zoo| FONZ. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

Hinostroza, Janet R. Cheetah Conservation Fund Founder Laurie Marker Had the Privilege of Meeting Majani! Digital image. San Diego Zoo. N.p., 13 July 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

CITES: The Savior of the African Organisms

With crimes concerning the illegal trade of wildlife ranked fourth in global crime rates, many African animals face endangerment and even extinction for the selling and trading of organisms and their parts-the cheetah is no exception. Poaching threatens ecosystems sprawling over multiple continents and the environment itself. Cheetahs are victimized for their beautiful spotted pelts and the illegal pet trade, an extremely detrimental practice that takes wild animals out of their natural habitats and into homes of regular citizens, most of whom have no qualifications to care for the cheetah.

A case of cheetahs about to be sold in the pet trade comes from Tanzania, where three cheetahs were found cramped together in a single cage, ready to be transported. Luckily, these three were lucky enough to be found by local officials before they were sold, but not all are as lucky as them. Along with the cheetah, elephants fall victim to the trade for their tusks and animals like the dik-dik and gazelle are killed for their meat (also referred to as bushmeat). With animals being harmed in a such horrible ways and their ecosystems starting to suffer because of it, it was clear action needed to be taken to provide protection.

In 1973, a law known as CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) was put into effect. 21 countries came together to sign the agreement and swore to implement the rules in their individual countries against poaching that would be recognized internationally. After decades of being put into effect, CITES remains in integral part of conservation work and now has a membership rate of 175 countries. 34,000 species are protected from poaching and illegal trade. Every two to three years, representatives meet and update their list of protected species. The protected are sorted into three categories, each level providing more or less protection depending upon the state of the species as a whole.

Even though CITES has been put into effect, there are still poachers operating illegally. CITES decided to take some action against those criminals by meeting with law enforcement officals and rangers in order to work out ways to stop the wrongdoers and further protect the animals they target. It's been made clear that CITES is not only protecting the cheetah, but other endangered and important animals as well. Legal action is needed in order to fully help a species survive despite victimization. CITES is the answer and even more countries should consider signing in and taking the initiative to protect their ecosystems as well as the health of the environment itself.


Works Cited:

CITES Logo. Digital image. CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

"CITES." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

Largo, Verity. "Poaching - the Cheetahs of the Serengeti Face Extinction."Ecologist. N.p., 16 Nov. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.