|
|
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Campbell KLI, Borner M. 1986.
Census of predators on the Serengeti plains, May 1986.
Serengeti Research Institute,
Arusha, Tanzania; Report nr 52, 6 pp.
|
|
A census carried out in May
1986 was designed to assess the numbers of hyenas and jackals present in the
Serengeti Plains after the wet season. The survey was designed to provide data
compatible with an earlier survey carried out in May 1977 by the Serengeti
Research Institute, and assess possible changes in population numbers. There
was no significant change detected in population numbers of hyenas and golden
jackals. However, there as a population decline in cheetahs observed that was
almost significant at the 95% confidence level. |
|
Campbell_&_Borner_1986_Census_of_predators_on_the_Serengeti_plains.pdf
|
|
|
|
Carlisle G. 2005. A brief
summary of the incidence of renal amyloidosis in captive-bred cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus) at the Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Animal
Keeper's Forum 7/8, 325-327.
|
|
In the time period from
December 1987 to February 2005, the Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn, South
Africa, has lost 67 Cheetah, 28 (41%)of these have been related to or as a
direct result of renal amyloidosis. Renal amyloidosis is a poorly understood
phenomenon of the deposition of an insoluble proteinaceous substance which
infiltrates the medulla (the area between the inner pelvis and outer cortex) of
the kidney, becomes waxy and renders the tissue non-functional and the organ
begins to fail. Renal amyloidosis is a common problem found in most
captive-bred cheetah populations all over the world, it appears that in the
time period (1990-1995) the disease increased in prevalence in the USA and
Southern Africa from 20% to 70% where cheetah either died or were euthanased
due to acute or chronic renal failure as a result of renal amyloidosis. |
|
Carlisle_2005_Renal_amyloidosis_in_captive-bred_cheetahs.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. Global Cheetah Project - Cheetah Status in
Southern Afrcia. Project progress report, 15 pp.
|
|
The aim of the Global Cheetah
Project is assess cheetah's status all over its range and to propose a plan for
the conservation of the species, including technical solutions to be used.
During the phase 1 of the project, five Southern African countries have been
surveyed, in a five months period: Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and
Zimbabwe. The survey has covered: the geographical location of the cheetah
populations and, for each of them, an estimation of their size and a collection
of the ecological parameters of its environment; the analysis of the threats
existing an these populations and a first approach of the technical options
that could minimize them; the meeting with the officers in charge of wildlife
and the scientists who could help to develop the future conservation strategy. |
|
Caro_-_Global_Cheetah_Project_Cheetah_Status
in Southern Africa.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. Successful propagation of captive cheetahs. Report,
20 pp.
|
|
Several new methods of
facilitating breeding cheetahs in captivity are proposed based on extensive observation
of their behaviour in the wild. The underlying assumption is that mimicing the
wild situation is a promising place to start if captive breeding programmes are
to show consistent success in the future. After briefly describing cheetah
reproduction in the wild, a series of recommendations are made that alter the
environmental and social circumstances surrounding captive breeding. These new
proposals cover the promotion of mating by both males and females, copulation,
gestation, birth and cub rearing and will require alterations in management
techniques, as well as behaioural observation of a core group of captive males
and females. Attempts to understand the causes of past breeding successes and
failures will also be made.
|
|
Caro_-_Successful_Propagation_of_Captive_Cheetahs.pdf
|
|
Caro TM. The Serengeti Cheetahs. Report, 1 p.
|
|
Information about the cheetahs
speed, the population and the social organisation. Description about radio
collars and their effect on cheetahs. People in the Serengeti are asked to note
exact places where collared animals have been seen to support researches in the
Park..
|
|
Caro_-_The_Serengeti_Cheetahs.pdf
|
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|
|
Caro TM. 1982. A record of cheetah scavenging
in the Serengeti. African Journal of Ecology 20, 213.
|
|
Cheetah social organisation is
probably unique among mammals, females live singly, males in permanent
associations of three, in pairs or alone. Cheetah male coalitions confer no
much advantages because solitary females have overlapping home ranges and pass
through a number of male territories during the year. Because of female
dispersal and relative asynchrony of oestrus, a male that kept close to a
single female over an extended period would suffer lowered reproductive success
to one that searches for a number of females over that time. Unless there are
unknown benefits to forming a coalition. This study sets out to determine those
benefits. |
|
Caro_1982-1983_Cheetah_male_coalitions.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1983. Cheetah male
coalitions. Project supported by the National Geographic Society, Final
Report, 9 pp.
|
|
Cheetah social organisation is
probably unique among mammals, females live singly, males in permanent
associations of three, in pairs or alone. Cheetah male coalitions confer no
much advantages because solitary females have overlapping home ranges and pass
through a number of male territories during the year. Because of female
dispersal and relative asynchrony of oestrus, a male that kept close to a
single female over an extended period would suffer lowered reproductive success
to one that searches for a number of females over that time. Unless there are
unknown benefits to forming a coalition. This study sets out to determine those
benefits. |
|
Caro_1982_A_record_of_cheetah_scavenging_in_the_Serengeti.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1986. Indirect costs
of play: cheetah cubs reduce maternal hunting success. Animal Behaviour
35, 295-297. |
|
The study presents data to
show that the costs of play can not only affect young animals directly, but can
affect them indirectly through their effect on parents on whom they depend. |
|
Caro_1986_Cheetah_cubs_reduce_maternal_hunting_success.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1987. Cheetah
mothers' vigilance: looking out for prey or for predators?
Behavioral Ecology
and Sociobiology 20, 351-361.
|
|
Free-living cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus) cubs are killed by a number of predators, thus vigilance in
cheetah mothers may be a form of anti-predator behaviour as well as a means of
locating prey. Mothers' vigilance during the day was closely associated with
measures of hunting but not with measures of anti-predator behaviour. In
contrast, mothers' vigilance at kills was not related to hunting but was
related to anti-predator behaviour. Both forms of vigilance decreased as cubs
grew older. |
|
Caro_1987_Cheetah_mothers_vigilance.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1989. The Brotherhood
of Cheetahs. Natural History 6/89, 51-58.
|
|
A ten-years survey of
cheetah's male coalitions to understand what they might gain from one another's
company. Of the 110 males observed, about 20% lived in groups of three, 40% in
pairs and 40% alone. About 80% of coalitions were composed of brothers from the
same litter. |
|
Caro_1989_Brotherhood_of_cheetahs.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1989. Determinants of
asociality in felids. In Staden V, Foley RA (eds). Comparative
socioecology: the behavioral ecology of humans and other mammals. Oxford:
Blackwell Press; p 41-74.
|
|
Despite a number of benefits
that could accrue from living in groups, adult members of most felid species
live alone, which suggests that there are considerable costs to living together
for members of this family. The reasons why male felids of most species live
alone, but why male cheetahs and lions live in groups are first discussed. I
then address the more problematic question of why the great majority of adult
female cats do not live together. The idea that females actually live alone for
most of their lives is dismissed. Using data from free-living cheetahs, it is
shown that their companions (dependent cubs) consume a large share of the food
that females acquire, but help their mothers little in catching prey. The review suggests that conditions necessary for sociality
to evolve are absent for virtually all extant felids. |
|
Caro_1989_Determinants_of_asociality_in_felids.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1990. The big cats
cheetahs. Cats up close, 5 pp.
|
|
Article about
social structure in males and females, reproduction and development of the
cubs. It includes information about cheetah speed. |
|
Caro_1990_The_Big_Cats_Cheetahs.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1993. Behavioral
solutions to breeding cheetahs in captivity: insights form the wild. Zoo
Biology 12, 19-30.
|
|
Knowledge of cheetahs'
behavior is increasingly seen as the key to solving the mystery of cheetahs'
poor breeding performance in captivity. In the absence of zoos' maintaining
systematic records of individuals' behavior during introductions, behavior of
free-living animals can be informative. In the wild, most female cheetahs
probably mate with males living in small groups or coalitions; thus, zoos may
benefit from replicating these social conditions. The findings suggest that captive institutions should be less
nervous about housing male cheetahs together and introducing females to groups
of males for purposes of breeding. |
|
Caro_1993_Behavioral_solutions_to_breeding_cheetahs_in_captivity.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1995. Short-term
costs and correlates of play in cheetahs. Anim Behav 49, 333-345.
|
|
Costs and benefits of play
were investigated by observing cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, cubs in the
wild. Cubs played either after resting or nursing, or while the family was
moving; cubs were never injured during 2600 h of observation, and did not
become separated from their mother during play; and mothers showed few signs of
unease while cubs played. It is argued that energetic and indirect costs of
play were insubstantial. Taking all these potential costs together, overall
costs of play appeared low. Very young cubs showed high rates of locomotor play
suggesting that play may have immediate rather than delayed benefits, possibly
aiding cubs in escaping predation. |
|
Caro_1995_Short_term_costs_and_corelates_of
play_in_cheetah.pdf
|
|
|
Caro TM. 1996. An elegant
enigma - The cheetah is socially and genetically unique among all the cats.
Wildlife Conservation May/June 1996, 44-47. |
|
The unique sociality and
genetic characteristics of the cheetah are described. The author points out
that predation, rather than genetics seems to be responsible for the low
population density in the wild and that more cubs die of poor husbandry and
maternal neglect in zoos, than from genetic deformities as conservation
genetics would predict. |
|
Caro_1996_An_elegant_enigma.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM. 2003. Umbrella
species: critique and lessons from East Africa. Animal Conservation 6, 171-181.
|
|
Umbrella species are 'species
with large area requirements, which if given sufficient protected habitat area,
will bring many other species under protection'. Historically, umbrella species
were employed to delineate specific reserve boundaries but are now used in two
senses: (1) as aids to identifying areas of species richness at a large
geographic scale; (2) as a means of encompassing populations of co-occurring
species at a local scale. In the second sense, there is a dilemma as to whether
to maximize the number or viability of background populations; the umbrella
population itself needs to be viable as well. Determining population viability
is sufficiently onerous that it could damage the use of umbrella species as a
conservation shortcut. The effectiveness of using the umbrella-species concept
at a local scale was investigated in the real world by examining reserves in
East Africa that were gazetted some 50 years ago using large mammals as
umbrella species. Populations of these species are still numerous in most
protected areas although a few have declined. Populations of other, background
species have in general been well protected inside reserves; for those
populations that have declined, the causes are unlikely to have been averted if
reserves had been set up using other conservation tools. Cheetahs belong to the species that were usually ignored and are
considered as background species. |
|
Caro_2003_Umbrella_species_Critique_and_lessons_from_East_Africa.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Collins DA. 1986. Male
cheetahs of the Serengeti. National Geographic Research 2, 75-86.
|
|
A population of about 300
adult cheetahs was studied on the Serengeti Plains over a five-year period
starting in 1980. Male cheetahs were found to live alone or in stable groups of
two or three, whereas females were always solitary. Evidence suggests that a
number of unrelated males formed coalitions after adolescence. Ten territories
were identified. Resident males often temporarily vacated these territories when
few Thomson's gazelles, the main food of female cheetahs, were in the area.
Male coalitions were more likely to hold a territory than where single males
and they appeared to occupy territories longer than did single males.
Coalitions of territorial males may gain reproductive benefits, possibly by
increased survivorship and possibly by monopolizing areas where more female
cheetahs accumulate when following the Thomson's gazelle migration. |
|
Caro_&_Collins_1986_Male_cheetahs_of_the_Serengeti.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Collins DA. 1987. Male
cheetah social organization and territoriality. Ethology 74, 52-64.
|
|
Patterns of territory
ownership in male cheetahs inhabiting the Serengeti Plains are described, and
factors affecting territorial behaviour are examined. Body size and age were
factors influencing whether males became territorial, and single males usually
had to join up with others in order to oust residents. Both size of male
coalition and body size of its members were associated with length of tenure on
territories. Limited data suggest that territory owners were probably no more
likely to encounter females than were non-territorial males but there was a
suggestion that they suffered lower survivorship costs than non-territorial
males. |
|
Caro_&_Collins_1987_Male_cheetahl_social_organization_and_territoriality.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Collins DA. 1987. Ecological
characteristics of territories of male cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).
J Zool,
Lond 211, 89-105.
|
|
Ecological characteristics of
nine male cheetah's territories in the Serengeti National Park are described.
Territories were centered on areas that provided cover but did not have
particularly high rainfall or prey abundance. Resident male cheetahs did not
occupy their territories continuously. Some territories were vacated in the dry
season, others in the wet season, but in both cases this occurred then numbers
of Thomson's gazelles (females' main prey) and female cheetahs seen there were
low. Although changes in territory ownership appeared to be related to
demographic rather than ecological factors, territories that remained vacant
seemed to contain rather little prey. Over two years, evidence suggested that
territories occupied by males of larger group size contained greater numbers of
Thomson's gazelles. |
|
Caro_&_Collins_1987_Cheetah_territoriality.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Durant SM. 1991. Use of
quantitative analyses of pelage characteristics to reveal family resemblances
in genetically monomorphic cheetahs. Journal of Heredity 82, 8-14.
|
|
African cheetahs (Acinonyx
jubatus) have extremely low lewels of biochemical genetic variation relative to
other felids as measured by enzyme electrophoresis, suggesting that
interfamilial differences in phenotypic traits may be slight. Quantitative data
on the pattern on tail bands collected from both sides of the tails of 64
free-living cheetahs show, however, that individuals differ markedly from each other
and that siblings resemble each other significantly more than do nonsiblings.
Furthermore, offspring tail bands show significantly less similarity to tail
bands of their mothers than they do to their siblings. |
|
Caro_&_Durant_1991_Family_resemblances_in_cheetahs.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Durant SM. 1995. The
importance of behavioral ecology for conservation biology: examples from
Serengeti carnivores. In Sinclair ARE, Arcese P (eds). Serengeti II:
Dynamics, Management and Conservation of an Ecosystem. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press; p 451-472.
|
|
In this chapter, we first
outline the reasons why populations go extinct. Then, using examples from
Serengeti carnivores, including cheetahs, we show how knowledge of an animal's behaviour can assist in all key
facets of conservation biology, including management strategies. Finally we
briefly discuss how diverse conservation studies of endangered species outside
Serengeti have profited from consideration of behavioural ecologists,
reinforcing the point that have an important role to play in a biological world
rapidly dominated by conservation issues. |
|
Caro_&_Durant_1995_Behavioral_ecology_in_conservation_biology.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Laurenson K. 1989.
The
Serengeti Cheetah Project. Natural History 26, 28-31.
|
|
Long-term studies are allowing
to follow the fate of individuals from birth to death. After nearly a decade of
continuous work, the insights we have gained into the lives of these complex
but so-called solitary predators are showing how individuals survive and
reproduce in the wild. Now that we can pinpoint the timing and causes of
mortality, and discover why only certain individuals breed successfully, we are
in a much better position to give sound advice on policy decisions. For
example, cheetahs may be better able to raise cubs in areas where they do not
rely on migratory prey. Also, in areas where large predators are rare or eliminated,
such as those inhabited by some pastoralists, cubs may have good survival
chances. And, at low cheetah densities where competition between males is less
strong, a greater proportion of males may |
|
Caro_&_Laurenson_1989_The_Serengeti_Cheetah_Project.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Laurenson K. 1986. The cause of the decline of the Serengeti cheetah population. Report,
23 pp.
|
|
This project will investigate
the causes of the decline in the Serengeti cheetah population. Seven-years
records indicate both litter size and female fertility are decreasing rapidly
in this important breeding population. A two-thirds reduction in Thomson's
gazelle numbers, female cheetahs' main prey, has also occurred in the last 13 years,
in part because of increased predation pressure following the rise in wildbeest
numbers. Preliminary evidence suggests that cheetah mothers may now be unable
to find enough Thomson's gazelle fawns near their denning site to sustain
lactation but the subject requires critical investigation. |
|
Caro_&_Laurenson_1986_The_causes_of_the_Decline_of_the_Serengeti_Cheetah_Population.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Laurenson K. 1990. Serengeti Cheetah Project Preliminary Report.
Arusha, Tanzania: Serengeti
Wildlife Research Center; 33 pp.
|
|
Over the past 11 years, the
Serengeti Cheetah Project has sought to determine the numbers of cheetahs
living in the ecosystem and monitor changes in the population size over time.
This is achieved by having personnel collecting demographic records in the
field on a continuous basis. Our long term records indicate that perhaps only
600 cheetahs inhabit the whole ecosystem, half of these on the Plains. In
contrast, approximately 4000 spotted hyenas and 1500 lions use the same area. |
|
Caro_&_Laurenson_1990_Serengeti_Cheetah_Project_preliminary_report.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Laurenson K. 1994. Ecological and genetic factors in conservation: A cautionary tale.
Science 263, 485-486.
|
|
Genetic considerations are
important in the management of captive populations but may only be relevant to
free-living populations on a slower time scale than environmental or
demographic problems. Indeed, there is widespread agreement that the
environmental consequences of human disturbance present the greatest challenge
to most populations in the wild, and these usually occur at a far swifter rate
than inbreeding. |
|
Caro_&_Laurenson_1994_Ecological_and_genetic_factors_in_conservation.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Holt ME, FitzGibbon
CD, Bush M, Hawkey CM, Kock RA. 1987. Health of adult free-living cheetahs.
J
Zool, Lond 212, 573-584.
|
|
Health of free-living adult
cheetahs was assessed using haematological and biochemical measurements of
condition. Results showed that cheetahs of both sexes varied on several of
these measures, demonstrating that their genetic monomorphism does not result
in individuals being of equivalent health. Differences in condition appeared to
be somewhat associated with sex, age and whether males were territorial.
Compared to two different groups of captive cheetahs, free-living cheetahs were
monocytotic, and free-living femaIes were macrocytic. Limited data from captive
animals showed they ate more than their free-living counterparts, possibly
reflecting the elevated blood glucose levels of captive cheetahs
|
|
Caro_et_al_1987_Health_of_cheetahs.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, FitzGibbon CD, Holt
ME. 1989. Physiological costs of behavioural strategies for male cheetahs.
Animal Behaviour 38, 309-317.
|
|
In adult cheetahs, Acinonyx
jubatus, some males compete fiercely for access to territories become
residents and encounter females within territories, while others seek out
females in the course of a nomadic existence. This study shows that
non-resident male cheetahs are in poor health compared to resident males based on
examination of their body condition and haematological measures. Non-residents
are both behaviourally and physiologically stressed compared to residents. They
not only spend a lower per cent of time in exposed resting places and more time
alert than residents, but they also have raised cortisol levels, suggesting
behavioural differences associated with their status may contribute to their
poor physical condition. |
|
Caro_et_al_1989_Costs_of_cheetah_strategies.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caro TM, Gros P, Durant S, Philippot P-Y, Wittman
B. 1989. Global Cheetah Project: Conservation of cheetahs as
a contribution to biological diversity. Report, 44 pp.
|
|
A global cheetah project is
planned for conservation of cheetahs as a contribution to biological diversity.
The document is a proposal submitted to the EEC. The aim of this project is to
pinpoint, in each country, areas that contain cheetah concentrations, and
assess the nature and extent of the ecological and human problems they face. |
|
Caro_et_al_1989_Global_Cheetah_Project_Contribution_to_biological_diversity.pdf
|
|
|
Castro-Prieto A, Watcher B, Sommer S.
2011. Cheetah Paradigm Revisited: MHC Diversity in the World's Largest
Free-Ranging Population. Molecular Biology and Evolution : 1455-1468.
|
|
For more than two decades,
the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has been considered
a paradigm of disease vulnerability associated with
low genetic diversity, particularly at the immune
genes of the major histocompatibility complex
(MHC). Cheetahs have been used as a classic example
in numerous conservation genetics textbooks as well
as in many related scientific publications. However,
earlier studies used methods with low resolution
to quantify MHC diversity and/or small sample
sizes. Furthermore, high disease susceptibility was
reported only for captive cheetahs, whereas free-ranging
cheetahs show no signs of infectious diseases
and a good general health status. We examined
whether the diversity at MHC class I and class II-DRB
loci in 149 Namibian cheetahs was higher than
previously reported using single-strand conformation
polymorphism analysis, cloning, and sequencing.
MHC genes were examined at the genomic and transcriptomic
levels. We detected ten MHC class I and four class II-
DRB alleles, of which nine MHC class I and all class
IIDRB alleles were expressed. Phylogenetic analyses
and individual genotypes suggested that the alleles
belong to four MHC class I and three class II-DRB
putative loci. Evidence of positive selection was detected
in both MHC loci. Our study indicated that the
low number of MHC class I alleles previously observed
in cheetahs was due to a smaller sample size examined.
On the other hand, the low number of MHC class II- DRB
alleles previously observed in cheetahs was further
confirmed. Compared with other mammalian species
including felids, cheetahs showed low levels of
MHC diversity, but this does not seem to influence
the immunocompetence of free-ranging cheetahs in Namibia
and contradicts the previous conclusion that the
cheetah is a paradigm species of disease vulnerability.
|
|
Castro-Prieto_et_2011_Cheetah_paradigm_revisited-MHC_diversity.pdf
|
|
|
|
Caughley G. 1994. Directions
in conservation biology. Journal of Animal Ecology 63, 215-244.
|
|
Conservation biology has two
threads : the small-population paradigm which deals with the effect of
smallness on the persistence of a population, and the declining population
paradigm which deals with the cause of smallness and its cure. The processes
relevant to the small-population paradigm are amenable to theoretical
examination because they generalize across species and are subsumed by an
inclusive higher category: stochasticity. In contrast, the processes relevant
to the declining-population paradigm are essentially humdrum, being not one hut
many. So far they have defied tight generalization and hence are of scant
theoretical interest. The small-population paradigm has not yet contributed
significantly to conserving endangered species in the wild because it treats an
effect (smallness) as if it were a cause. It provides an answer only to a
trivial question: how long will the population persist if nothing unusual
happens? |
|
Caughley_1994_Directions_in_conservation_biology.pdf
|
|
|
|
CCF - Notes on the king
cheetah. Note, in German (incl. translation into English).
|
|
In the 1960's, it was shown by
genetic examination that the king cheetah does not represent a new species,
but is merely a recessively inherited pattern variation. |
|
CCF_-_Notes_on_the_King_Cheetah.pdf
|
|
|
|
CCF 1995. Cheetah survival
depends on Namibian ranchers. Cheetah Conservation Fund Newsletter, April 1995,
3.
|
|
Sixty percent of Namibian
ranchers do not practice any form of livestock management. Consequently, over
10'000 cheetah are believed to have been killed between 1980 and 1991. In a
educational purpose the Cheetah Conservation Fund published the teacher's
resource guide called Cheetah: A Predatory's Role in the Ecosystem. |
|
CCF_1995_Cheetah_survival_depends_on_Namibian_ranchers.pdf
|
|
|
|
CCF 1995.Conservation
strategy for the long-term survival of cheetah in Namibia - 1995 Annual Report
Cheetah Conservation Fund. Windhoek Namibia: Cheetah Conservation Fund.
15 pp.
|
|
Loss of habitat, declining
prey base, and competition with livestock/agricultural interests and large
predators are taking a heavy toll on wild cheetah populations throughout
Africa. The largest percentage of the world's remaining free-ranging cheetah
are found outside of game reserves in Africa and are threatened with extinction
due to growing human demands on resources. The Cheetah Conservation Fund's
primary focus is in areas outside of the protected reserves, working with the
local livestock farming communities to develop ways to reduce conflict between
humans and cheetahs and devise a cheetah conservation management plan which secures
habitat for the species and considers land use needs. In this annual report of
1995, principal objectives were: (i) evaluate livestock practices and identify
key components in farmland ecosystems necessary for the sustenance of healthy
cheetah populations; (ii) conduct conservation education programs in Namibian
schools; (iii) address conflicts between farmers and predators in order to
develop a conservation and management strategy that benefits both humans and
cheetahs; (iv) adapt model programs developed in Namibia for use in other
southern African countries; and (v) coordinate work with wildlife officials and
other non-governmental organisations working with cheetahs. |
|
CCF_1995_Conservation_strategy_for_the_long-term_survival_of_cheetah_in_Namibia.pdf
|
|
|
|
CCF. 1996. Addendum to cheetah
and lion data. Report, 3 pp.
|
|
CCF sent out a survey letter
in 1995 soliciting information updated on cheetah and lion throughout their
known ranges. The report summarizes the information that came back about the
situation of the cheetahs in the various countries. |
|
CCF_1996_Addendum_to_cheetah_data.pdf
|
|
|
|
CCF 1999. CCF Policy on Downlisting the
Cheetah. Cheetah Conservation Fund Newsletter, December 1999, 3.
|
|
Cheetah Conservation Fund
(CCF) position on the possibility of downlisting the cheetah from endangered to
threatened on the United States Endangered Species Act, in order to provide the
import of a limited number of live animals or trophy into the US. CCF is in
favour of the CITES quota for live export of cheetahs, but does not support the
downlisting of this species until more is known on its status and numbers in
Namibia. |
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CCF_1999_Downlisting_the_cheetah.pdf
|
|
|
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CCF. 1999. What is meant by
downlisting. Cheetah Conservation Fund Newsletter, Editorial.
|
|
The article explains the aim
of the cheetah downlisting from endangered to threatened species and places it
in the context of Cheetah Conservation Fund's policy. The downlisting is
conceived to allow the import of live cheetahs or trophies into the US, but an
alternative to the changing of the conservation status of the species is the
CITES quota system, that allows the exportation of a fixed number of animals
for scientific purposes. While CCF supports the quota system, it does not agree
with the downlisting. |
|
CCF_1999_What_is_meant_by_downlisting.pdf
|
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Chapron G. 2005. Re-wilding:
other projects help carnivores stay wild. Nature
|
|
In Namibia, the CCF has
developed programmes to foster acceptance of the predator
cheetah, by providing farmland-owners with educational
material and encouraging them to take pride in cheetah
presence. Ranchers enrolled in the programme can also
export beef, certified "cheetah friendly"
to the EU - making cheetah protection both ecologically
possible and economically profitable.
|
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Chapron_2005_Re-wilding_other_projects_help_carnivores_stay_wild.pdf
|
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|
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Chapuis M. 1961. Evolution and
Protection of the wild life of Morocco. African Wildlife 15, 107-112.
|
|
In the heading about the
depletion of Moroccan game, the author mentioned the cheetah disappearance (Acinonyx
jubatus hecki), which was still present up to 40 years ago in the
mountainous massifs bordering the Sahara.
Dans le paragraphe sur la diminution du gibier au
Maroc, l'auteur mentionne la disparition du guépard (Acinonyx jubatus
hecki), qui était encore présent il y a plus de 40 ans dans les massifs
montagneux bordant le Sahara. |
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Chapuis_1961_Wildlife_of_Morocco.pdf
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Charruau
et al. 2011. Phylogeography,
genetic structure and population divergence time of
cheetahs in Africa and Asia: evidence for long-term
geographic isolates. Molecular Ecology 20, 706-724.
|
|
The cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus) has been described as a species with low levels
of genetic variation. This has been suggested to be
the consequence of a demographic bottleneck 10 000-12
000 years ago (ya) and also led to the assumption that
only small genetic differences exist between the described
subspecies. However, analysing mitochondrial DNA and
microsatellites in cheetah samples from most of the
historic range of the species we found relatively deep
phylogeographic breaks between some of the investigated
populations, and most of the methods assessed divergence
time estimates predating the postulated bottleneck.
Mitochondrial DNA monophyly and overall levels of genetic
differentiation support the distinctiveness of Northern-East
African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii). Moreover,
combining archaeozoological and contemporary samples,
we show that Asiatic cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)
are unambiguously separated from African subspecies.
Divergence time estimates from mitochondrial and nuclear
data place the split between Asiatic and Southern African
cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) at 32 000-67 000
ya using an average mammalian microsatellite mutation
rate and at 4700-44 000 ya employing human microsatellite
mutation rates. Cheetahs are vulnerable to extinction
globally and critically endangered in their Asiatic
range, where the last 70-110 individuals survive only
in Iran. We demonstrate that these extant Iranian cheetahs
are an autochthonous monophyletic population and the
last representatives of the Asiatic subspecies A. j.
venaticus. We advocate that conservation strategies
should consider the uncovered independent evolutionary
histories of Asiatic and African cheetahs, as well as
among some African subspecies. This would facilitate
the dual conservation priorities of maintaining locally
adapted ecotypes and genetic diversity.
|
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Charruau_et_al_2011_Genetic_differences_in_cheetahs_from_Africa_and_Asia.pdf
|
|
|
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Chauvenet ALM, Durant SM, Hilborn R,
Pettorelli N. 2011. Unintended Consequences of Conservation Actions:
Managing Disease in Complex Ecosystems. PLoS
ONE 6(12): e28671, 9 pp. |
|
It is due to imprecise
counting techniques that the current conservation status of the cheetah in
Africa is a controversial issue. The identification of individuals provides
researchers with important information on cheetah populations. Photographic
identification is a simple, non-invasive technique for identifying individuals
by their colour, stripe and spot patterns and other unique characteristics,
depending on the species. |
|
Chauvenet_et_al_2011_Unintended_consequences_of_conservation_actions.pdf
|
|
|
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Chelysheva EV. 2004. A new
approach to cheetah identification. Cat News 41, 27-29. |
|
It is due to imprecise
counting techniques that the current conservation status of the cheetah in
Africa is a controversial issue. The identification of individuals provides
researchers with important information on cheetah populations. Photographic
identification is a simple, non-invasive technique for identifying individuals
by their colour, stripe and spot patterns and other unique characteristics,
depending on the species. |
|
Chelysheva_2004_A_new_approach_to_cheetah_identification.pdf
|
|
|
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Cherfas J. 1989. Fitness is no
passport to survival. New Scientist 8 July 1989, 38. |
|
Predators are commonly thought
to be nature's cleaner because they get rid of old and sick individuals. But a
study of cheetahs and wild dogs in the Serengeti reveals that they are not as
selective as people thought.
|
|
Cherfas_1989_Fitness_is_no_passport_to_survival.pdf
|
|
|
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Chipangali Wildlife Trust.
1987. News Sheet no 2, 4 pp.. |
|
News Sheet no 2 of the Chipangali
Wildlife Trust about Pan African Decade of Duiker Research.
One part is about the cheetah: as Zimbabwe and Namibia have identical cheetah
problems it was felt that an exchange of ideas would be of mutual advantage to
both countries. |
|
Chipangali_Wildlife_Trust_1987_News_Sheet_no_2.pdf
|
|
|
|
Chomel BB, Molia S, Kasten RW,
Leutenegger CM, Steele BR, Marker L, Martenson JL, Keet DF, Bengis RG, Peterson
RP, Munson L, O'Brien SJ. Prevalence of Bartonella infection in free-ranging
African lions and cheetahs. Report, 25 pp. |
|
Bartonella species are
emerging pathogens that have been isolated worldwide from humans and other
mammals. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of Bartonella infection
in free-ranging African lions and cheetahs. Blood and/or serum samples were
collected from a convenience sample of 113 lions and 74 cheetahs captured in
Africa between 1982 and 2002. Whole blood samples available from 58 of the
lions and 17 of the cheetahs were cultured for evidence of Bartonella spp., and
whole blood from 73 of the 74 cheeths tested for the presence of Bartonella DNA
by TaqMan PCR. Twenty-three percent of the 73
cheetahs tested by TaqMan PCR were positive for Bartonella spp. Bartonella
henselae antibody prevalence was 17% (19/113) for the lions and 31% (23/74) for
the cheetahs. |
|
Chomel_et_al_-_Prevalence_of_Bartonella_Infection_in_free_range_african_lions_and_cheetahs.pdf
|
|
|
Christiansen P, Mazak JH.
2009. A primitive
Late Pliocene cheetah, and evolution of the cheetah
lineage.
PNAS 106, 512-515. |
|
The cheetah lineage is
a group of large, slender, and long-limbed cats with
a distinctive skull and dental morphology, of which
only the extant cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is present
today. The lineage is characterized by having abbreviated,
tall, and domed crania, and a trenchant dentition with
a much reduced, posteriorly placed protocone on the
upper carnassial. In this article, we report on a new
discovery of a Late Pliocene specimen from China with
an estimated age of 2.2–2.5 million years, making it
one of the oldest specimens known to date. A cladistic
analysis confirmed that it is the most primitive cheetah
known, and it shares a number of unambiguous derived
cranial traits with the Acinonyx lineage, but has more
primitive dentition than previously known cheetahs,
demonstrating that the many unusual skull and dental
characters hitherto considered characteristic of cheetahs
evolved in a gradual fashion. Isolated teeth of primitive
cheetahs may not be recognizable as such, but can be
confused with, for instance, those of leopards or other
similar-sized pantherine cats or pumas. The age and
morphology of the new specimen supports an Old World
origin of the cheetah lineage, not a New World one,
as has been suggested. We name the new species Acinonyx
kurteni in honor of the late Bjo¨ rn Kurte´n.
|
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Christiansen_&_Mazak_2009_Evolution_of_the_cheetah_lineage.pdf
|
|
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|
Christie D, Blyde P, Hartley
W. Thiamine deficiency in cheetah. Report, 8 pp. |
|
Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo had
several incidences of sickness and death in Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus.
These incidences are now thought to have resulted from Thiamine deficiency. The
events leading to this conclusion, the various other options pursued, and the
preventative measures taken will be discussed. The implications for the
management of other collections and the incidence of disease outbreak in
Cheetah will also be discussed. |
|
Christie_et_al_-_Thiamine_Deficiency_in_Cheetah.pdf
|
|
|
|
CITES. 1992. Transfer of
Acinonyx jubatus (populations of Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
from Appendix I to Appendix II - Namibia and Zimbabwe. Document 8.46
No.9. |
|
Report on the cheetah
status, trade and protection in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia. |
|
CITES_1992_Transfer_of_cheetah_from_App_I_to_App_II.pdf
|
|
|
|
CITES.1992. Quotas
for trade in specimens of cheetah. Eighth Meeting of the Conference of the
Parties, Kyoto (Japan), 2 to 13 March 1992 |
|
In this conference report,
the utilization and conservation status of the cheetah in Namibia, Zimbabwe and
Botswana are discussed, and draft resolutions for quotas for trade in specimens
of cheetah are advanced. A detailed list of animals shot, live traded and trophy
hunted is given for Namibia. |
|
CITES_1992_Quotas_for_trade_in_specimens_of_cheetah.pdf
|
|
|
|
Claro F. 2003.
Survey of Fauna in Termit, Niger. In Monfort SL (ed).Fourth Annual Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group
Meeting SSIG. 6 pp. |
This study of the fauna in the
Termit mountains area, Niger, mentions the observations of three cheetahs and
the recording of 20 signs of occurrence. According Toubou population, cheetah
occurs in the northern part of the Termit Mountains, from Gosso to Lolom. The
population is estimated at maybe fifty or so cheetahs in the Termit region. The
results of the ethno-zoological survey indicate that the cheetah is not very
present in the Toubou culture. The cheetah survival may depend on prey
abundance, in particular dorcas gazelles.
Cette étude de la faune de la région du Termit au
Niger mentionne l'observation de trois guépards et de 20 signes de présence.
Selon la population Toubou, le guépard est présent dans la partie nord des
montagnes du Termit allant de Gosso à Lolom. La population est estimée à une
cinquantaine de guépard dans la région du Termit. D'après les résultats de
l'enquête ethno-zoologique, le guépard n'est pas très présent dans la culture
Toubou. La survie du guépard peut dépendre de l'abondance de ses proies, en
particulier celle de la gazelle dorcas. |
|
Claro_2003_Survey_of_fauna_in_Niger.pdf
|
|
|
|
Claro F, Sissler C. 2002. Rapport de mission
scientifique au Niger dans la region du Termit. Report, 30 pp. |
|
During a field survey in the
Termit area in Niger, 48 cheetah tracks were discovered, of which 14 were from
groups of two animals. 5 cheetahs have been observed, two of them from less
than 200 m. 11 prey remains were attributed to cheetahs, all of them dorcas
gazelles. The report also provides detailed description on cheetah's prey
species. |
|
Claro_&_Sissler_2002_Survey_of_the_Termit_region_in_Niger.pdf
|
|
|
|
Claro F, Sissler C. 2003.
Saharan cheetah in the Termit region of Niger. Cat News 38, 23-24. |
|
The Saharan cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus) survives in the Termit region of Niger. Three adults were sighted,
as well as many tracks and other signs of cheetah presence during an expedition
in October-November 2002.
Le guépard du Sahara (Acinonyx jubatus)
survit dans la région du Termit au Niger. Trois adultes ont été observés ainsi
que plusieurs empreintes et autres signes de présence de l'espèce lors d'une
expédition en octobre - novembre 2002. |
|
Claro_&_Sissler_2003_Cheetah_in_the_Termit_Niger.pdf
|
|
|
|
Claro F, Helder R. 2004. The
cheetah in the Pendjari Reserve of Biosphere, Benin. Report of an
identification mission (March 2004), 3 pp. |
The report summarizes a
preliminary mission in North Benin to assess the feasibility of a cheetah
conservation program in the Pendjari National Park. Cheetahs have been
regularly seen by park staff and even tourists. 24 cheetah observations have
been reported by tourists between December 2001 and April 2004, mostly along
the Pendjari river, where tourist activities are concentrated.
Ce rapport résume la mission préliminaire au nord du Bénin pour estimer
la faisabilité d'un programme de conservation du guépard dans le Parc National
de la Pendjari. Les auteurs mentionnent que des guépards sont régulièrement
observés par le personnel du pars et même par les touristes. 24 observations de
guépards ont été rapportées par des touristes entre décembre 2001 et avril
2004, la plupart le long de la rivière Pendjari, où les touristes concentrent
leurs activités. |
|
Claro_&_Helder_2004_The_Cheetah_in_the_Pendjari_Biosphere_Reserve.pdf
|
|
|
|
Claro F, Leriche H, van Syckle
SJ, Rabeil T, Hergueta S, Fournier A, Alou M. 2006. Survey of the Cheetah in W
National Park and Tamou Fauna Reserve, Niger. Cat News 45, 4-7. |
|
The status of cheetahs
Acinonyx jubatus in West Africa is poorly documented. In the literature,
the species is reported to range in Gambia, in the South of Mauritania, West of
Mali in the Boucle du Baoulé complex, in the North and South of Mali, and West
of Burkina Faso at the western border and in a region extending on the border
between eastern Burkina Faso, northern Togo, northern Benin and South West of
Niger.In order to investigate the status of the cheetah in W National Park
Niger and the Tamou total reserve
of fauna (750 km2, which adjoins it, a team from IRD/MNHN collected sightings
of cheetahs from 1972 to 2003, as well as information about cheetah habitat
in this area. In this paper, we present the results of this
investigation. |
|
Claro_et_al_2006_Survey_of_cheetah_in_W_NP
and_Tamou_Reserve_Niger.pdf
|
|
|
|
Cohn JP. 1986. Surprising
cheetah genetics - An in-depth study of genes form wild and captive cheetahs is
leading to new conservation strategies as well as questions and controversy.
BioScience 36, 358-362. |
|
A magazine article reporting
on a genetic study of wild and captive cheetahs that elucidate the
abnormalities found on sperm sample, high infant mortality, weakness to illness
and homogeneous histocompatibility complex. Causes of genetic invariability,
questions and controversy are also presented, as well as a species survival
plan foreseeing the publish of handbooks on breeding and managing techniques,
and standardized laboratory tests. |
|
Cohn_1986_Surprising_cheetah_genetics.pdf
|
|
|
|
Cohn JP. 1990. Genetics for
wildlife conservation. BioScience 40, 167-171. |
|
A review of the increasing
interest in genetics for wildlife conservation is given. DNA analysis is
helping to resolve taxonomic issues, explain reproductive problems, asses the
risk of disease epidemics , and suggest conservation strategies. |
|
Cohn_1990_Genetics_for_wildlife_conservation.pdf
|
|
|
|
Conradie C. 1998. Update on
blind cheetah. AfriCat-Newsletter - Namibian Carnivore Monitoring Project
6, 3. |
|
A successful removing cataract
operation on a blind mother cheetah has been performed. |
|
Conradie_1998_Update_on_blind_cheetah.pdf
|
|
|
|
Conradie C. 2005.
Rehabilitation and conservation research project. Animal Keeper's Forum
7/8, 321-323. |
|
AfriCat's aim is to release as
many cheetahs and leopards back into the wild as possible. In situations where
this cannot happen we endeavor, by means of our Cheetah Rehabilitation. Program, to return these animals to an
environment that closely resembles the one from which they were initially
removed and where they have a second opportunity to live as nature intended.
The AfriCat Cheetah Rehabilitation Program started in November 2000. The
philosophy behind this program is to give orphan cheetahs with no previous
hunting experience, an opportunity to act on their inherent instincts and
perfect their hunting skills, with the potential of relocating them to private
game reserves. The cheetahs are radio-collared and released into the
10,000-acre TUSK Trust Cheetah Rehabilitation Area, which contains a variety of
game species, such as kudu, onyx, duiker, steenbok, impala, hartebeest, eland,
zebra and wildebeest. Their progress and well-being is monitored on a daily
basis to establish whether they are hunting successfully and on the road to
becoming self-sustaining. |
|
Conradie_2005_Cheetah_rehabilitation_and_conservation_research_project.pdf
|
|
|
|
Conradie C, Schumann B. 2005. To release or to not release. AgriForum 18, 1 p. |
|
The Africat Foundation and the
Cheetah Conservation Fund regularly receive calls from farmers to collect
cheetahs captured in trap cages. The farming community has a keen interest in
what happens to these cats once they are removed from the area. Farmland
captures typically take place at so called "playtrees" along fence
lines, or in the veld using live bait. It may be the result of a loss, as a
preventative measure, or simply because cheetah activity was seen. Captures
very rarely take place at a kraal and virtually never in the same time frame as
an actual loss. Since cheetahs rarely return to a kill, the captured animals
are seldom directly associated with a specific loss, as is more commonly the
case with leopards. |
|
Conradie_&_Schumann_2005_To_Release_or_to_not_Release.pdf
|
|
|
|
Conservator Hluhluwe. 1992.
The Status of the Cheetah. Report, 26 pp. |
|
The status of the cheetah,
Acinonyx jubatus, varies widely in the 44 countries listed in this report,
being extinct in a few countries, nearly so in some, and endangered in most.
Only in two or three countries are the cheetah populations such that they are
considered only threatened, where they are legally eliminated if found to be in
conflict with human interests. All populations are regulated by CITES as
Appendix 1, which bans international commerce and sporting trophies. However, a
few countries in the world have lifted the ban and have allowed import of sport
trophies. Namibia has been exporting a limited number of wild caught animals
for zoological and private exhibition. At the January 1992 CITES meet, quotas
were set for export of 150 animals from Namibia. 50 animals from Zimbabwe and 5
animals from Botswana. |
|
Conservator_Hluhluwe_1991-1992_Current_status_of_the_cheetah.pdf
|
|
|
|
Conservator Hluhluwe. 1994.
Re-Introduction of Cheetah to Hluhluwe
Umfolozi NP. Natal Parks Board
Memorandum, 3 pp. |
A number of problems with the
conservation of cheetah in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park (HUP) were addressed and,
based on these problems, a new strategy for conservation of this animal in HUP
and southern Africa was proposed.
This involved treating disjunct cheetah population in southern Africa as a
meta-population managed by regular translocations. Cheetahs should be
re-introduced to large relatively open, contiguous areas in HUP. Refinement to
the re-introduction/translocation programm should be the next step and interest
of other conservation agencies for this management strategy need to be
determined. |
|
Conservator_Hluhluwe_1994_ReIntroduction_of_Cheetah_to_HUP.pdf
|
|
|
|
Cooper AB, Pettorelli N, Durant SM. 2007. Large carnivore menus: factors affecting hunting decisions by cheetahs
in the Serengeti. Animal Behaviour 73, 651-659. |
|
Predation plays a key role in
shaping mammalian communities through prey killed and through the decisions and
choices of both predators and prey. We used an extensive data set from observed
hunts of a diurnal large African carnivore, the cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus,
in combination with analysis techniques originally developed in the field of
economics (discrete choice models) to examine predation decisions within the
context of the immediate environment and the reproductive and hunger status of
individuals. This is one of the first attempts at an integrated understanding
of the suite of ecological and behavioural factors that influence hunting
decisions in a large carnivore. The decision of a cheetah to hunt or not was
influenced by the abundance of their main prey, the reproductive status of the
cheetah and the presence of competitors and predators, but not by the hunger
level of the cheetah. Given that the decision to hunt is taken, prey choice is
then driven by the time of year, the sex of the predator, the abundance of prey
and the presence of competitors. We believe that discrete choice models may
provide a new step forward in our ability to understand the decisions that
animals make in their natural environment. |
|
Cooper_et_al_2007_Hunting_decision_by_cheetahs_in_the_Serengeti.pdf
|
|
|
|
Corkill NL. 1928. On the
occurrence of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in Iraq. Journal of the Bombay
Natural History Society 33, 700-702. |
|
This article contains a brief
review of the cheetah's occurrence in Iraq and a morphological description of
two cubs capture in the Shamiyah Desert in 1928. |
|
Corkill_1928_Occurrence_of_Cheetah_in_Iraq.pdf
|
|
|
|
Crawshaw G. 2005. Herpesvirus
infection in cheetahs. Animal Keeper's Forum 7/8, 290. |
|
Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1) is
a very common cause of upper respiratory disease in domestic cats, causing
sneezing and discharges from the eyes and nose. In most cases, cats recover
spontaneously and completely, although some will develop persistent infection.
The virus may also affect the eyes causing opacity and ulceration of the cornea
and conjunctiva. More rarely lesions may be seen on the skin. Wild felines are
also susceptible to infection and in these the disease may be severe and even
fatal. Upper respiratory infection consistent with FHV-1 has been seen in
cheetahs in North America but several collections have also experienced a
persistent form of the disease affecting the eyes, eyelids and skin. |
|
Crawshaw_2005_Herpesvirus_infection_in_cheetahs.pdf
|
|
|
|
Crooks KR, Sanjayan MA, Doak
DF. 1998. New insights on cheetah conservation through demographic modeling.
Conservation Biology 12, 889-895. |
|
Researchers have recently
argued that ecological factors, especially high levels of cub predation, are
more important than genetic impoverishment in limiting wild populations of the
endangered cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Despite considerable controversy,
however, the forces actually driving cheetah population dynamics remain
unclear. We used a combination of demographic techniques to investigate how
variation in survival and reproduction might influence the population
persistence of wild cheetahs. We parameterized our models using detailed
demographic data from recently published, long-term ecological projects on
cheetahs of the Serengeti. Results suggest that the influence of juvenile
survivorship on population growth rate is relatively small compared to the
large effects of adult survivorship. This result is consistent across a range
of vital rates and is robust to deviations due to sampling error and
environmental variability. These conclusions cast a new light on the current
cheetah controversy and, more generally, counsel caution in the interpretation
of ecological data for conservation and management. |
|
Crooks_et_al_1998_Demographic_modeling_in_cheetah_conservation.pdf
|
|
|
|
Crosier AE, Marker
L, Howard J, Pukazhenthi B, Henghali JN and Wildt
D. 2007. Ejaculate traits in the Namibian cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus): influence of age, season and captivity.
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19, 370-382.
|
|
The objective was to
examine the influence of animal age, season and captivity
status on seminal quality in wild-born cheetahs (Acinonyx
jubatus) in Namibia, Africa. Animals were divided into
three age categories: juvenile (14-24 months; n=16 males,
23 ejaculates); adult (25-120 months; n=76 males, 172
ejaculates); and aged (>120 months; n=5 males, 5
ejaculates). Seasons were categorised into hot-wet (January-April),
cold-dry (May-August) and hot-dry (September-December).
A comparison between freshly wild-caught (n=29 males,
41 ejaculates) and captive-held cheetahs (n=68 males,
159 ejaculates) was also conducted. Raw ejaculates contained
69.0±1.1% motile spermatozoa (mean±s.e.m.) with 73.6±1.5%
of these cells containing an intact acrosome. Overall,
18.4±0.9% of spermatozoa were morphologically normal,
with midpiece anomalies being the most prevalent (¡«39%)
defect. Juvenile cheetahs produced ejaculates with poorer
spermmotility, forward progressive status, lower seminal
volume and fewer total motile spermatozoa than adult
and aged animals. Spermatogenesis continued unabated
throughout the year and was minimally influenced by
season. Proportions of sperm malformations were also
not affected by season. Ejaculates from captive cheetahs
had increased volume and intact acrosomes, but lower
sperm density than wild-caught counterparts. In summary,
Namibian cheetahs produce an extraordinarily high proportion
of pleiomorphic spermatozoa regardless of age, season
or living (captive versus free-ranging) status. Young
males less than 2 years of age produce poorer ejaculate
quality than adult and aged males. Because (1) all study
animals were wild born and (2) there was little difference
between freshly caught males and those maintained in
captivity for protracted periods, our results affirm
that teratospermia in the cheetah is mostly genetically
derived. It also appears that an ex situ environment
for the Namibian cheetah can ensure sperm quality comparable
with that for free-living males.
|
|
Crosier_et_al_2007_Ejaculate_traits_in_the_Namibian_cheetah.pdf
|
|
Crosier AE, Henghali JN, Howard JG, Pukazhenthi
BS, Terrell KA, Marker LL, Wildt DE. 2009. Improved quality of cryopreserved
cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) spermatozoa after centrifugation through accudenz.
Journal of Andrology 30, 298-308. |
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Sperm cryopreservation, in combination with
assisted reproductive techniques, is a valuable tool for the genetic management
of endangered felids. However, the acrosome of the cheetah spermatozoon is
especially sensitive to cryopreservation, with approximately 40% of spermatozoa
experiencing acrosomal damage immediately after thawing and then another
approximately 15% loss during the next 4 hours in vitro. Additionally, thawing
causes a reduction in sperm motility by approximately 20% with another decrease
of approximately 12% during subsequent incubation in vitro. We hypothesized
that slow removal of glycerol from cryopreserved cheetah spermatozoa using an
Accudenz gradient would improve acrosomal integrity, sperm motility longevity,
and structural morphology. Accudenz was compared with traditional cheetah sperm
processing methods for glycerol removal that involves washing, multistep resuspension,
and swim-up processing. Electroejaculates (n = 21 total from 8 males) were
washed in Ham F10 medium, and sperm pellets were resuspended in TEST-yolk
buffer with 0% glycerol. Samples were cryopreserved in straws in 4% final
glycerol, thawed, and assessed for percent intact acrosomes (% IA), percent
motility (% M), and forward progressive status (FPS; scale, 0-5). Sperm
motility index (SMI) was calculated as (% M + [FPS x 20]) / 2. In study 1, glycerol removal by
centrifugation through an Accudenz gradient (4%, 10%) was compared with
traditional sperm washing (control) and multistep resuspension protocols. At
each time after centrifugation (hourly for 4 hours), % IA was improved (P ,
.05) for Accudenz (range, 36%-39%) compared with control (30%-33%) and
multistep (29%-33%) treatments. In study 2, a modified Accudenz protocol was
compared with traditional washing and was found to improve (P <0.05) SMI
(range, 52-64) compared with controls (range, 41-52) at each time postthaw
after centrifugation. In study 3, swim-up processed sperm were compared with
those treated by centrifugation through Accudenz and traditional sperm washing
for improving sperm morphology. The percentage of structurally-normal sperm
recovered postthawing increased (P , .05) for both the Accudenz (38%) and
swim-up (33%) treatments compared with controls (21%). Percent IA and SMI also
were improved (P < 0.05) for Accudenz (range, 39%-47% and 46-59, respectively)
compared with controls (range, 26%-33% and 40-53, respectively). Results indicate
that using Accudenz for glycerol removal from cryopreserved cheetah sperm
mitigates the significant loss in sperm quality that occurs after
freeze-thawing. This alleviation of cellular damage resulting from
cryopreservation contributes to a more than 10% improvement in overall sperm
motility and, more importantly, allows retention of 40% or more of sperm with
intact acrosomes. |
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Crosier_et_al_2009_Improved_quality_of_cheetah_spermatozoa.pdf
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Cutting CS. 1938. The fastest
hunt in the world. Natural History, March 1938, 179-184. |
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Cheetah hunting for deer or
antelope is a sport that has been common in Africa and Asia for a long time.
Even caught in the wild they respond kindly to their keepers, far more than do
leopards. Training of cheetahs and the hunt are described in this report
including pictures and paintings. |
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Cutting_1938_The_Fastest_Hunt_in_The_World.pdf
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Cuzin F. 1996. Répartition actuelle et statut des
grands mammifères sauvages du Maroc (Primates, Carnivores, Artiodactyles). Mammalia 60, 101-124.
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Owing to numerous recent data,
the present geographical distribution and status (according to IUCN 1994) of
all the twenty-four wild species of Primates, Carnivores and Artiodactyla in
Morocco are updated. For some of them an estimation of numbers and a map
showing their distribution are displayed. Leopard, cheetah and dama gazelle are
critically endangered. Striped hyaena, caracal, dorcas gazelle, Cuvier's
gazelle and aoudad are endangered. Golden jackal, common otter and sand cat are
vulnerable. Barbary macaque, red fox, Ruppell's sand fox, fennec fox, weasel,
Libyan striped weasel, ratel, common genet, Egyptian mongoose, African wild cat
and wild boar, although decreasing, still maintain considerable populations.
Relevant information is insufficient for European polecat, as for introduced
red deer. The causes of wild mammals regression and the problem of their
protection are briefly analyzed. |
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Cuzin_1996_Repartition_actuelle_et_statut_des_grands_mammiferes_sauvages_du_Maroc.pdf
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Cuzin F. 2003. Le guépard, Acinonyx jubatus.
Chapitre 4.5.5. de la thèse de doctorat Les grands mammifères du Maroc méridional
(Haut Atlas, Anti Atlas et Sahara): Distribution, écologie et conservation. |
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The cheetah's population in
Morocco seems not to exceed 20 individuals and is probably located along mined
Saharan defence walls. |
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Cuzin_2003_Acinonyx_jubatus_in_Morocco.pdf
(in French)
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Cuzin F. 2003. Les grands mammifères du Maroc méridional
(Haut Atlas, Anti Atlas et Sahara): Distribution, écologie et conservation.
PhD Thesis, Laboratoire de biogéographie
et écologie des Vertébrés, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Université
Montpellier II, 213 pp..
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A study from bibliography and
observational data (2181 observations including locality, altitude, climate and
vegetation) was made on 29 species of large mammals (Primates, Carnivores,
Ungulates, Hystrix cristata and Lepus capensis) that have been
found in the 20th century in Morocco from the Atlas Mountains to the
Sahara. According to the density, 5 groups of species have been formed and
separately analysed. For each species the distribution as a function of the
geographic, altitudinal, climatic and vegetation variables, as well as the
conservation status and the national IUCN (2001) status are given. For species
with a high density, the potential distribution and population fragmentation is
also studied. Four species have become extinct during the last century, 16 are
threatened, and 11 are in a normal status. For the whole group of species a
synthetic altitudinal and climatic repartition is presented, as well as
dispersion parameters for Ungulates and distribution of water sources for
Canidae in the Sahara. Different scenarios were studied to select priority
areas for protection, using the RESNET software. Factors of species regression
are discussed, underlining the influence of human activities. Finally, legal
aspects, today surveys and reintroduction programs, as well as lack of
management, perspectives and the function of large mammals in conservation are
presented. The cheetah's population in Morocco seems not to exceed 20
individuals and is probably located along mined Saharan defence walls. |
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Cuzin_2003_Status_of_large_mammals_in_Morocco.pdf
(in French)
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