A Brief History of Cheetah Conservation

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the most unique of the 41 species of felids, (Kitchener et al., 2016) is at the crossroads of its survival. With an estimated population of 7100 adult and adolescent cheetahs in their natural habitat (Durant et al., 2017), long-term conservation research programs are collectively working on strategies to ensure their survival. Over the past 4 decades, a small but prolific group of international researchers and conservation biologists has emerged, all dedicated to solving the problems that threaten cheetah survival. Their collective research is presented in the chapters of this book and brings together what we currently
know about the cheetah, the challenges it is facing, and the solutions that have been developed. Many of the cheetah conservation strategies that currently are being undertaken have a unique and interesting history of how they began. Here we endeavor to offer a historical overview and timeline that ties together the information presented in the chapters of this book.