Trends in cheetah Acinonyx jubatus density in north‐central Namibia

Abstract

Assessing trends in abundance and density of species of conservation concern is vital to inform conservation and management strategies. The remaining population of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) largely exists outside of protected areas, where they are often in conflict with humans. Despite this, the population status and dynamics of cheetah outside of protected areas have received relatively limited attention across its range. We analyzed remote camera trapping data of nine surveys conducted from 2005 to 2014 in the Waterberg Conservancy, north‐central Namibia, which included detections of 74 individuals (52 adult males, 7 adult females and 15 dependents). Using spatial capture–recapture methods, we assessed annual and seasonal trends in cheetah density. We found evidence of a stable trend in cheetah density over the study period, with an average density of 1.94/100 km2 (95% confidence interval 1.33–2.84). This apparent stability of cheetah density is likely the result of stable and abundant prey availability, a high tolerance to carnivores by farmers and low turnover rates in home range tenure. This study highlights the importance of promoting long‐term surveys that capture a broad range of environmental variation that may influence species density and the importance of nonprotected areas for cheetah conservation.

Combining detection dogs and camera traps improves minimally invasive population monitoring for the cheetah, an elusive and rare large carnivore

“…We identified a similar pattern from our camera trap survey, where camera trap stations placed at roads yielded lower probabilities of detecting cheetahs compared to camera trap stations placed at marking sites, concordant to earlier studies (Brassine & Parker, 2015; Fabiano et al., 2020). In addition, targeted camera trap placement at marking sites may not only increase the probability of detecting territorial males, but likely also improve chances of capturing individuals of different sex and life‐history stages that may only inspect marking sites (Melzheimer et al., 2020).…”

Combining detection dogs and camera traps improves minimally invasive population monitoring for the cheetah, an elusive and rare large carnivore

“…We identified a similar pattern from our camera trap survey, where camera trap stations placed at roads yielded lower probabilities of detecting cheetahs compared to camera trap stations placed at marking sites, concordant to earlier studies (Brassine & Parker, 2015; Fabiano et al., 2020). In addition, targeted camera trap placement at marking sites may not only increase the probability of detecting territorial males, but likely also improve chances of capturing individuals of different sex and life‐history stages that may only inspect marking sites (Melzheimer et al., 2020).…”

Cheetahs in Tanzania's Selous–Nyerere ecosystem: lack of evidence for current persistence, and reflections on historical status

“…obs., 2018). Although the spatial movement patterns of cheetahs mean they are less well-suited to road-based spoor and camera-trap surveys than other large carnivores (Fabiano et al, 2020; Strampelli et al, 2022b), our lack of survey records combined with this lack of observation of the species by the many potential observers in the landscape supports our conclusion that Selous–Nyerere should not be treated as potential contemporary cheetah range.…”

Strengthening cheetah population monitoring for biodiversity conservation

“…In Area 2.1 we were unable to detect cheetah presence from camera trap. This is consistent with other recent and ongoing monitoring efforts (Verschueren et al, 2021b; CCF unpublished data), but contrasting with the stable population density of 1.94 individuals per 100 km 2 trend observed between 2005 and 2014 (Fabiano et al, 2020). Area 2.1 is a well-studied landscape with known marking sites identified from previous work, and with reliable indications that the population exhibited a socio-spatial organization with territorial males (Fabiano et al, 2020;Marker et al, 2008a).…”

“…We identified a similar pattern from our camera trap survey, where camera trap stations placed at roads yielded lower probabilities of detecting cheetahs compared to camera trap stations placed at marking sites, concordant to earlier studies (Brassine and Parker, 2015;Fabiano et al, 2020). In addition, targeted camera trap placement at marking sites may not only increase the probability of detecting territorial males, but likely also improve chances of capturing individuals of different sex and life-history stages that may only inspect marking sites (Melzheimer et al, 2020).…”

“…We acknowledge the low encounter probabilities of females, and subsequently the large estimate (meters) for the female spatial scale parameter. In Area 2.1, despite the presence of previously identified marking sites (Fabiano et al, 2020), we failed to detect any cheetahs. While cheetahs were detected in Areas 2.2 and 2.3, their capture rates were lower than in Area 1, and only one marking site was found in Area 2.3.…”

Combining detection dogs and camera traps improves minimally invasive population monitoring for the cheetah, an elusive and rare large carnivore

“…We identified a similar pattern from our camera trap survey, where camera trap stations placed at roads yielded lower probabilities of detecting cheetahs compared to camera trap stations placed at marking sites, concordant to earlier studies (Brassine & Parker, 2015; Fabiano et al., 2020). In addition, targeted camera trap placement at marking sites may not only increase the probability of detecting territorial males, but likely also improve chances of capturing individuals of different sex and life‐history stages that may only inspect marking sites (Melzheimer et al., 2020).…”

Cheetahs in Tanzania's Selous–Nyerere ecosystem: lack of evidence for current persistence, and reflections on historical status

“…obs., 2018). Although the spatial movement patterns of cheetahs mean they are less well-suited to road-based spoor and camera-trap surveys than other large carnivores (Fabiano et al, 2020; Strampelli et al, 2022b), our lack of survey records combined with this lack of observation of the species by the many potential observers in the landscape supports our conclusion that Selous–Nyerere should not be treated as potential contemporary cheetah range.…”

Strengthening cheetah population monitoring for biodiversity conservation

“…In Area 2.1 we were unable to detect cheetah presence from camera trap. This is consistent with other recent and ongoing monitoring efforts (Verschueren et al, 2021b; CCF unpublished data), but contrasting with the stable population density of 1.94 individuals per 100 km 2 trend observed between 2005 and 2014 (Fabiano et al, 2020). Area 2.1 is a well-studied landscape with known marking sites identified from previous work, and with reliable indications that the population exhibited a socio-spatial organization with territorial males (Fabiano et al, 2020;Marker et al, 2008a).…”

“…We identified a similar pattern from our camera trap survey, where camera trap stations placed at roads yielded lower probabilities of detecting cheetahs compared to camera trap stations placed at marking sites, concordant to earlier studies (Brassine and Parker, 2015;Fabiano et al, 2020). In addition, targeted camera trap placement at marking sites may not only increase the probability of detecting territorial males, but likely also improve chances of capturing individuals of different sex and life-history stages that may only inspect marking sites (Melzheimer et al, 2020).…”

“…We acknowledge the low encounter probabilities of females, and subsequently the large estimate (meters) for the female spatial scale parameter. In Area 2.1, despite the presence of previously identified marking sites (Fabiano et al, 2020), we failed to detect any cheetahs. While cheetahs were detected in Areas 2.2 and 2.3, their capture rates were lower than in Area 1, and only one marking site was found in Area 2.3.…”

Combining detection dogs and camera traps improves minimally invasive population monitoring for the cheetah, an elusive and rare large carnivore

“…We identified a similar pattern from our camera trap survey, where camera trap stations placed at roads yielded lower probabilities of detecting cheetahs compared to camera trap stations placed at marking sites, concordant to earlier studies (Brassine & Parker, 2015; Fabiano et al., 2020). In addition, targeted camera trap placement at marking sites may not only increase the probability of detecting territorial males, but likely also improve chances of capturing individuals of different sex and life‐history stages that may only inspect marking sites (Melzheimer et al., 2020).…”

Cheetahs in Tanzania's Selous–Nyerere ecosystem: lack of evidence for current persistence, and reflections on historical status

“…obs., 2018). Although the spatial movement patterns of cheetahs mean they are less well-suited to road-based spoor and camera-trap surveys than other large carnivores (Fabiano et al, 2020; Strampelli et al, 2022b), our lack of survey records combined with this lack of observation of the species by the many potential observers in the landscape supports our conclusion that Selous–Nyerere should not be treated as potential contemporary cheetah range.…”

Strengthening cheetah population monitoring for biodiversity conservation

“…In Area 2.1 we were unable to detect cheetah presence from camera trap. This is consistent with other recent and ongoing monitoring efforts (Verschueren et al, 2021b; CCF unpublished data), but contrasting with the stable population density of 1.94 individuals per 100 km 2 trend observed between 2005 and 2014 (Fabiano et al, 2020). Area 2.1 is a well-studied landscape with known marking sites identified from previous work, and with reliable indications that the population exhibited a socio-spatial organization with territorial males (Fabiano et al, 2020;Marker et al, 2008a).…”

“…We identified a similar pattern from our camera trap survey, where camera trap stations placed at roads yielded lower probabilities of detecting cheetahs compared to camera trap stations placed at marking sites, concordant to earlier studies (Brassine and Parker, 2015;Fabiano et al, 2020). In addition, targeted camera trap placement at marking sites may not only increase the probability of detecting territorial males, but likely also improve chances of capturing individuals of different sex and life-history stages that may only inspect marking sites (Melzheimer et al, 2020).…”

“…We acknowledge the low encounter probabilities of females, and subsequently the large estimate (meters) for the female spatial scale parameter. In Area 2.1, despite the presence of previously identified marking sites (Fabiano et al, 2020), we failed to detect any cheetahs. While cheetahs were detected in Areas 2.2 and 2.3, their capture rates were lower than in Area 1, and only one marking site was found in Area 2.3.…”