The cheetah plays a significant role in keeping our planet alive. Its role as a predator on the African savannah is vital to the health of the ecosystem. Unique in its ability to reach speeds up to 70 mph (110kmph), the cheetah is truly inspirational. Will the fastest animal on land be able to win the most important race in its history—the race against extinction?

The cheetah is listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and vulnerable on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species. An estimated 100,000 cheetahs living more than a century ago have dwindled down to less than 15,000 remaining in the wild today. At the same time, human populations grew and so did the demand for resources. Unfortunately, this often puts people in direct competition with wildlife, the cheetah included.

The largest population of cheetahs, numbering at about 2,500, resides in the African country of Namibia where livestock farming has taken over much of the natural savannah habitat. Competition with other predators such as lions has pushed 95% of Namibian cheetahs out of the national parks and on to farmland. Many farmers will not tolerate cheetahs on the farm, as they fear the cheetahs will kill their livestock. Farming also alters the landscape. Specifically, bush has taken over much of the original grassland, causing problems for farmer and cheetah alike. These are just a few of the threats to survival that the cheetah faces.

Though the cheetah’s future may sound grim, all hope is not lost. Conservation efforts that take into account the needs of both cheetahs and people are making a difference. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has declared cheetah conservation as one of its signature conservation projects. The Zoo plays a lead role through captive management, education programs and a long-standing working relationship with the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia. Under the direction of Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF works with local farmers to find solutions that allow farmers and cheetahs to coexist on the land. CCF has been successful in helping farmers develop and implement livestock management practices that better not only their economic gains, but also the health of the ecosystem in Namibia, Botswana and Kenya. CCF is also highly involved in research on cheetah biology and ecology, and works to educate local populations about cheetahs and cheetah conservation.

Earth Expeditions, Namibia: Great Cat Conservation

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has partnered with Project Dragonfly at Miami University to create Earth Expeditions, a global conservation education program offering university courses traveling to pivotal hotspots in Africa, Asia, and the Americas to engage in inquiry and action projects on vital issues in conservation. In the Earth Expeditions course, Namibia: Great Cat Conservation, Earth Expeditions students spend time at CCF and interact with Dr. Laurie Marker.
To learn more and to apply for this exciting program, we invite you to visit us at: http://www.earthexpeditions.org.