IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Purchase, G.K. | |
| An assessment of the success of a cheetah re-introduction project in Matusadona National Park | |
| 1998 Full Book | |
By the end of 1994, 14 adult and three juvenile cheetahs _(Acinonyx jubatus) _had been successfully released into Matusadona National Park (MNP), Zimbabwe. These cheetahs had been captured in the southern part of the country where they had been reported to be causing stock losses. Four years after the translocation 13 adult and four juvenile cheetahs were present in the park. Eight records of cheetah litters during these four years gave an average litter size of 2.8 cubs and juvenile mortality between 3 and 24 months was recorded as 60%, much lower than was previously predicted. Adult mortality was estimated as 20.5%. The cheetahs used the treeline habitat more than would be expected. They utilised the foreshore for hunting and eating and the woodland for resting and moving through the park. Prey selection had not altered significantly since the cheetahs were first released, impala _{Aepyceros melampus) _being the main prey species killed. There was no evidence that the cheetahs would overutilise the available prey. Home range areas measured were smaller than those measured shortly after the cheetahs were released (53.8 km2 compared to 135.5 km2 for males, and 23.6 km2 compared to 257 km2 for females). All home range areas appeared to include an area of productive habitat (foreshore) and cover (treeline and woodland). A very high density of lions _(Panthera leo) _was recorded, 0.317 lions/ km2 and hyaena _{Crocuta crocuta) _density was recorded as 0.13 hyaenas/ km2. When compared to other conservation areas in Africa, MNP has very few hyaenas for the number of lions present. MNP also has a very low predator biomass for the available prey biomass. After correcting for prey biomass, a negative relationship was found between lion and hyaena biomass, and cheetah biomass for eight conservation areas in Africa, although the relationship was only significant for lion biomass compared to cheetah biomass. The overlap between cheetahs and lions in terms of prey selection is very small, lions preferring buffalo, _Syncerus caffra _(PSR = 9.25) and cheetahs preferring waterbuck, _Kobus ellipsiprymnus _(PSR = 4.67). The overlap in prey selection between hyaenas and cheetahs is considerable, both preferring waterbuck (Hyaena PSR == 1.00) and killing impala predominantly. Habitat preferences of lions and cheetahs were similar with both species using the treeline and the foreshore more than would be expected and the woodland less than would be expected. Population Viability Analysis concluded that the population of cheetahs was viable and had a 100% chance of persisting for a 100 years. The translocation up to the present date appears to have been a success. However, the PVA used estimates of carrying capacities of MNP for cheetahs based on available area and prey. There is evidence that the amount of productive habitat (foreshore), the high density of lions or a combination of both factors will restrict the maximum number of cheetahs that will be able to utilise the park. If this maximum number if less than 25 cheetahs the population will no longer be viable. |
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