Cheetah conservation in South Africa

Abstract

Cheetahs should be conserved as drivers of biodiversity conservation and as instruments of nature based tourism development. Only 7 500 cheetahs remain worldwide and their numbers continue to decrease. The species is currently listed as vulnerable, but is close to re-listing as endangered. In South Africa the distribution has shrunk from covering the whole country with the exception of forest to a narrow band along the Northern border from Kgalagadi to Kruger. In addition, 38 fenced reserves have successfully reintroduced the cheetah. The main threats in South Africa are direct persecution, loss of prey base and habitat, illegal trade and inbreeding.The cause for persecution is a perceived confl ict with livestock and wildlife ranching. Kenneth Buk and Kelly MarnewickKenneth Buk is a wildlife ecologist. Kelly Marnewick is a manager at the Centre of WildlifeManagement at the University of Pretoria,. Why Conserve Cheetahs?Why be preoccupied with the status of one single species when so much biodiversity is threatened? Cost-effi cient conservation usually takes a habitat, ecosystem or biodiversity approach, but in the case of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) there are good reasons to be concerned with a single species. The cheetah is a charismatic fl agship species with a big potential for tourism-fi nanced conservation and associated job creation. It is an umbrella species that requires large areas of natural or near-natural habitats, which will help protect many species and habitats. As a top predator it is a keystone species and an indicator species of a wellconserved, functioning ecosystem. Hence, the cheetah contributes to both biodiversity conservation and economic development. Distribution and Numbers Historical DistributionThere are few historical records of cheetah distribution in Africa. Marker (1998) 1 was of the opinion that historically the species was widely distributed throughout the continent in all 213© Africa Institute of South Africa AFRICA INSIGHT Vol 39 (4) -March 2010Cheetah conservation in South Africa | Kenneth Buk and Kelly Marnewick suitable habitats (see below) from the Cape to the Mediterranean. In South Africa cheetahs were reported to be locally common in the Northern Cape province around 1840 (Backhouse 1844). 2 In the 1860-70's normal cheetahs and an aberrant 'woolly' cheetah were reported from the Beaufort West area in the Western Cape province (Skinner and Smithers 1990; Sclater 1877). 3 Cheetahs were exterminated from the Kwa-Zulu Natal province by the 1930s (Skinner and Smithers 1990), but were still reported from the Bushmanland and Kenhardt districts, Northern Cape in 1942 (Shortridge). 4 By 1990 Skinner and Smithers (1990) reported cheetah distribution as sporadic in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, parts of the North-West Province, northern Limpopo province, Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga and with small re-introduced populations in the Kwa-Zulu Natal reserves.Qualifi ed population estimates are still unavailable for some areas. However, the world population of cheet...

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) running the gauntlet: an evaluation of translocations into free-range environments in Namibia

“…1 ) pending further decision on their management (i.e., permanent captivity vs. release). Contrary to a relocation programme in South Africa ( Buk & Marnewick, 2010 ), Namibian managers did not receive financial rewards for translocating cheetahs instead of killing them.…”

Ecotourism contributions to conservation of African big cats

“…The remaining range of leopard has shrunk by up to 40%, and nearly 90% of remaining habitat is on private rangeland Hayward et al 2006;Swanepoel 2008). Cheetah have lost over 75% of their historical range, and the total remaining population is below 10,000, mostly outside protected areas, with the largest subpopulation of ~2500 in Namibia (Buk & Marnewick 2010;Marker & Dickman 2004;Marker et al 2003;Marker et al 2008). The population effects of range reduction are exacerbated by low genetic diversity in remaining populations (Buk & Marnewick 2010;O'Brien & Evermann 1988).…”

“…Public and private wildlife reserves routinely reintroduce big cats, to attract tourists as well as to conserve cats (Buk & Marnewick 2010;Castley et al 2001;Hayward et al 2007;Hunter et al 2007;Sims-Castley et al 2005;Trinkel et al 2008). African big cats have also been the focus of a number of large-scale international conservation efforts Dickman et al 2011;Hazzah et al 2009Hazzah et al , 2014.…”

Perceived efficacy of livestock-guarding dogs in South Africa: Implications for cheetah conservation

“…). The study area was characterized by a semiarid savannah agricultural habitat (Buk and Marnewick ). Producers incorporated sheep, goats, cattle, or mixed livestock species in grazing operations ranging from 400 ha to 10,400 ha ( = 3,966 ha).…”