The Cheetah: 5 Species, Description, Threats, and Conservation Efforts

By Eman Abdallah Kamel

Eman is a writer and engineer. She is interested in writing about animals and their facts.

This article covers the cheetah’s habitat, five main subspecies, physical features, behavior, role in environmental balance, threats, and conservation efforts.

A mother cheetah on a termite mound in the Masai Mara, with her cubs. The cheetah is an endangered animal.

The Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus, the scientific name for this amazing big cat, is renowned for its stunning speed and aerodynamic physique.

Cheetahs live in savannas, grasslands, shrublands, wetlands (inland), rocky areas (such as inland slopes and mountain peaks), and deserts.

Cheetahs historically roamed across vast areas of Africa, from the grasslands of East Africa to the savannahs of Southern Africa. They were also found in parts of Iran and other parts of Asia.

While once widespread across Africa and parts of Asia, this magnificent animal faces many threats, pushing it toward the brink of extinction. However, concerted conservation efforts offer hope for the survival of this iconic species.

Did You Know?

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies cheetahs as vulnerable.

Let’s explore more about this interesting endangered animal.

Habitats

In Africa, the cheetah is found widely, from dry forests and dense trees to grasslands and extreme deserts, such as the Sahara. They are absent from tropical and montane forests. There are reports of the cheetah at altitudes of 4,000 meters on Mount Kenya.

In Iran, the cheetahs live in deserts, with annual rainfall of less than 100 mm.

The cheetah has been reported as relatively rare across the great belt of Miombo forest in southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique, and has not been recorded in these habitats in recent years.

A recent study has suggested that the Miombo forests may be an important cheetah habitat.

The Cheetah Species

There are five cheetah subspecies:

The Northwest African Cheetah, or Saharan Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki).
The Northeast African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii).
The Southeast African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus).
The East African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus raineyii).
The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus).

Cheetahs in northwest Africa can adapt to endure the harsh conditions of the Sahara Desert. Image source: inaturalist.org

1. Northwest African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki)

The northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), also known as the desert cheetah, is native to the Sahara and Sahel. It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

The cheetah found in northwest Africa is completely different in appearance from other African cheetahs. The body shape is essentially the same as that of sub-Saharan cheetahs, except a bit smaller. Its coat is shorter and almost white, with spots ranging from black above the spine to light brown on the legs. The face has few or even no spots, and the tear streaks (dark lines extending from the central canal of each eye down the side of the muzzle to the corner of the mouth) are often missing.

The main prey of the northwest African leopard is antelope. It also preys on smaller mammals, such as rabbits.

In the Sahara, daytime temperatures exceed 40 °C (104 °F), water is scarce, and rainfall is irregular. Studies have revealed that cheetahs in this region show several behavioral adaptations to this harsh climate. They are mostly nocturnal and active between sunset and early morning. They travel greater distances and are found in lower densities than cheetahs that live in the savannah.

The Northeast African cheetah. The long tail of the cheetah aids in maintaining equilibrium when it changes course mid-chase. Image source: flickr.com

2. The Northeast African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii)

Northeastern Africa is home to the northeast African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii). In South Sudan, groups are known in Boma, Southern, Radom, and Badingelo National Parks. The Northeast African cheetah is regionally extinct in Eritrea, Djibouti, and northern Somalia. In 2007, the total number of cheetahs in northeastern Africa was approximately 950 individuals. In Ethiopia, this subspecies lives in the Omo, Gambella, Aldege, Mago, and Yangudi Rasa National Parks and the Borena, Ogaden, Afar, and neighboring Plaine Afar regions.

It lives in grasslands, wide open spaces, semi-arid regions, and other open habitats with plenty of prey, like the eastern Sudanese savannas. There have been reports of seeing wild leopards in southeast Sudan’s Blue Nile.

The Northeast African cheetah is larger than the Southeast African cheetah. It has a densely colored mottled coat with relatively thick and coarse fur compared to the cheetahs of East and Northwest Africa.

The belly of the Northeast African cheetah is distinctly white, while its chest and throat can have some black spots similar to those found in the eastern subspecies.

Cheetahs’ diet consists of herbivores like zebras, hares, Grant’s gazelles, and guinea fowl.

The Northeast African cheetah is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Southeast African Cheetah is the closest relative to the Asiatic Cheetah and the Northeast African Cheetah. Image source: wikimedia.org

3. The Southeast African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus).

The South African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus), also known as the Namibian cheetah, is native to eastern and southern Africa. The South African cheetah lives mainly in the lowlands and deserts of the Kalahari, the savannas of the Okavango Delta, and the grasslands of the Transvaal region of South Africa. In Namibia, cheetahs are mostly found on farmland. In India, four leopards of this subspecies live in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

Adult male cheetahs measure between 168 and 213 cm, while females range between 162 and 200 cm. Adult cheetahs are 70 to 90 cm tall at the shoulder. Males have slightly larger heads with wider incisors and longer jaws than females.

The cheetah has a light yellow, or sometimes golden, coat. The white underside is very conspicuous, and the spots on its belly are fewer. The spots on the face are more pronounced, and the spots generally appear denser than those of most other subtypes.

The natural habitats of the Southeast African cheetah include grasslands, semi-desert steppes, savannas, and thorn forests. These cheetahs hunt and stalk herbivorous mammals like antelope in wide-open fields.

The Southeast African cheetah is classified as vulnerable.

Acinonyx jubatus, the cheetah, is in the savannah of East Africa. Image source: researchgate.net

4. The East African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus raineyii)

The East African cheetah lives in the grasslands and savannas of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia. The cheetah mainly inhabits the Serengeti ecosystem, including the Masai Mara and Tsavo landscapes.

The main cheetah range is from northern Tanzania to southern Kenya. The largest groups are mostly found in Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kura National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania and Kenya, where there were between 569 and 1,007 cheetahs in Tanzania and between 710 and 793 individuals in Kenya. Kenya is home to most of the vulnerable cheetah population in East Africa, with estimates of its adult population ranging from 800 to 1,200 in 2015.

The weight of East African cheetahs ranges between 70 and 75 kg. The head and body length measure 110–135 cm. In general, males are larger than females. Males have much larger lower jaw lengths and deeper skulls.

Cheetahs in East Africa have a yellowish-white to tan coat. They typically have shorter, thinner fur, though some have thicker, rougher fur on the abdomen. It has many round black spots, some of which are present on the chest and neck, except for the white lower part. It also has a lighter build than other African cheetahs.

In East Africa, cheetahs live primarily in shrub forests, grasslands, savannas, open fields, steppes, and arid environments where prey is available. A few can also be found on the shores of lakes and coastal areas, including mountain ranges. Amboseli National Park cheetahs also live in the arid Nyeri deserts.

According to the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), there are fewer than 40 individuals of Asian cheetahs remaining worldwide. Image source: wikimedia.org

5. The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)

The Asiatic cheetah was roaming from Saudi Arabia to India. But today, its range is limited to a small area in Iran. It lives in the mountainous terrain of eastern Iran. The Asian cheetah population is likely limited to the Turan Biosphere Reserve in northeastern Iran. Several years have passed since it was last observed in other reserves.

The Asian cheetah is relatively smaller than the African cheetah. It has distinctive black tear marks extending from its eyes down the sides of its nose, paler fur on its sides, and small black spots across its body. The adult Asian cheetah has a head and body length of about 112-135 cm and a long tail of 66–84 cm. It weighs about 34–54 kg.

The chinkara, gazelle, wild sheep, wild goat, and hare are among the medium-sized herbivores that the Asian cheetah preys on.

It is critically endangered, with fewer than 40 individuals remaining worldwide.

Did You Know?

Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals and have been documented as reaching speeds of up to 103 km per hour (29 meters per second). However, actual speeds may be much lower than this in real hunting situations where the cheetah may be slowed by the weaving of the prey and the need to avoid obstacles. They cannot maintain maximum speeds for more than a few hundred meters.

Cheetahs have lighter skeletons, which allows them to move quickly and easily when chasing their prey. Image source: cheetah.org/canada

Characteristics of the Cheetah

A distinctive black “tear stripe” runs from the inner corner of each eye down to the mouth, which may help reduce glare from the sun during hunts.	Long legs	A small head
A deep chest	The body type of the cheetah is slender.	A narrow waist
The short, blunt claws act like the cleats of a track shoe to grip the ground for traction when running to help increase speed. The cheetah’s spine is flexible.	The coat is a golden yellow with black spots, providing excellent camouflage in the grasslands where they hunt.	The cheetah’s spine is flexible.
The average weight of adult cheetahs ranges between 75 and 125 pounds.	The cheetah’s foot pads are solid and less rounded than those of other cats. The pad provides them with increased traction in fast and sharp turns.	The cheetah’s shoulder blade does not connect to the collarbone, allowing the shoulders to move freely.
The length, from head to back, ranges from 40 to 60 inches. The tail can add another 24 to 32 inches, bringing the total length to 7.5 feet.	Wide nostrils allow them to inhale more oxygen.	Male cheetahs are slightly larger than females and have larger heads.
The short, blunt claws act like the cleats of a track shoe to grip the ground for traction when running to help increase speed. The cheetah’s spine is flexible.	The cheetah’s long, muscular tail acts as a rudder, stabilizing the body and acting as a counterweight to its body weight.	The eyes have long retinal foveae, which are the tiny, rodless areas of the retina, giving them a sharp, wide-angle vision of their surroundings.

Cheetah cubs have a thick, silvery-gray mantle down their back. The scarf helps camouflage. Cubs lose their mantle at about three months of age. Image source: istockphotos.com

Behavior

Vigilance: The cheetah is alert and monitors its surroundings while awake. This exercise is usually done seated or standing. The muscles tend to be trained as if they were ready to run or do any action.
Sitting: When sitting, the cheetah is upright, and its front legs support its weight, while the hind legs are tucked under the animal with its rump on the ground.
Standing: The cheetah is stationary on all four legs, either waiting or observing.
Lying: The cheetah lies on the ground with its head erect. Its shoulders may or may not be on the ground.
Sleeping: The cheetah lies on the ground with its head down when sleeping, unable to see what is around. The animal is not alert.
Play: The cheetah manipulates an object, such as a tree trunk or food, using its front paws.
Feeding: Gazella subgutturosa and G. bennetti were preferred prey for the cheetah. However, they became insufficient because of overhunting. Today, the key prey species are wild sheep (Ovis orientalis), Persian ibex (Capra aegagrus), and Cape hares (Lepus capensis).
Mating: Researchers have found that certain environmental factors, such as the presence of males nearby and their scent markings, can trigger mating receptivity. Females will mate with multiple males during estrus, which lasts up to 14 days. When a male cheetah comes across a female cheetah in estrus, male cheetahs will stay with her and mate for up to three days at intervals throughout the day.
Cheetah Cubs: They weigh between 8.5 and 15 ounces at birth. Their mother will take care of them. After a day or so, she will leave them to hunt. So she can continue to care for them. This is the most vulnerable time for the cubs. They will live in an isolated nest until they are approximately six to eight weeks old, and their mother regularly moves them from nest to nest to avoid detection by predators. The mother takes care of her cubs for a year and a half. The cubs begin to follow their mother. During the first few months, she can’t move far or fast, and the cub mortality rate is at its highest. Less than one in 10 cubs survives during this time, as they die from predation by larger predators or from injuries. Between four and six months of age, the cubs’ semi-non-retractable claws are sharper and help them grip the tall trees they climb. At the age of one year, cheetah cubs participate in hunting with their mothers. At approximately 18 months of age, the mother separates from the cubs.
Densities: Cheetahs occur in prime habitats at relatively low densities, 10–30% of the typical densities of lions, leopards, tigers, and jaguars. On the Serengeti plains, leopard densities range from 0.8 to 1.0 per 100 km², but seasonally, leopards can congregate at densities of up to 40 per 100 km². The decline in cheetah densities has been attributed to interspecific competition, particularly with larger species such as lions and hyenas that can kill cheetah cubs. But in Namibian farmland, where lions and hyenas have been extirpated, cheetahs still occur at low densities (0.2 per 100 km²).

The extinction of cheetahs will decrease the hunting of herbivores, leading to an imbalance in the ecological balance.

The Role of Cheetahs in Maintaining Environmental Balance

Cheetahs live in grasslands. The overpopulation of herbivores caused by the extinction of cheetahs would lead to increased soil erosion, a reduction in water availability, the loss of vegetation, and a detrimental effect on the health of ecosystems.

Threats of Extinction

Except for a small population in Iran, cheetahs are extinct in Asia, and only 23% of their historical range remains in Africa. In 2022, eight cheetahs from Namibia were transported to India to save them from going extinct.

Despite their remarkable adaptations, cheetahs are facing many threats to their survival.

Habitat loss is the biggest threat to the cheetah’s survival. Natural habitats continue to be converted for grazing and agriculture, reducing the size of suitable habitat patches.
Wild prey is disappearing in many areas of the cheetah’s range due to habitat degradation, livestock competition for grazing, unsustainable meat hunting, and veterinary fences. The depletion of wild prey can increase the frequency of predation on livestock, which can worsen conflict with livestock keepers.
Incidental trapping by snares is a source of cheetah mortality. Trapping also contributes to the loss of wild prey.
The illegal trade in cheetah skins persists throughout their range, even though the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has outlawed the trade in cheetahs. Trade and local use of skins will likely play a role in the decline of cheetah numbers in many areas.
Unregulated tourism threatens cheetah populations. Negative impacts of tourism may include interfering with hunting and scaring away cheetahs from hunting where they are unlikely to return. Separation of mothers from cubs due to interference from tourist vehicles. These impacts can be minimized through tourism regulation, the training of safari guides, and the effective implementation of cheetah monitoring practices.

Conservation Efforts

Several organizations and governments are working tirelessly to protect cheetahs and their habitats.

Conservation efforts include creating protected areas where cheetahs can live undisturbed, implementing measures to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and conducting research to better understand cheetah behavior and ecology.

The plight of the cheetah and the significance of protecting this iconic species are also being brought to light through awareness-raising campaigns. Educational programs and ecotourism initiatives are helping to generate support for conservation efforts and provide alternative livelihoods for communities living near cheetah habitats.

Examples of efforts:

In Namibia, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) has implemented programs to help farmers protect their livestock from cheetahs, reducing the incidence of human-wildlife conflict. As a result, cheetah numbers in Namibia have stabilized, offering hope for the species’ long-term survival.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in South Africa has been working to establish corridors that connect fragmented cheetah populations, allowing for genetic exchange and increasing the chances of survival for isolated groups.
There are many cheetah conservation projects, such as the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project, the Serengeti Cheetah Project, Action for Cheetahs in Kenya, and the Cheetah Conservation Program in Tanzania.
The Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) works to conserve the Asiatic cheetah in cooperation with the Iranian Ministry of Environment.

Illegal hunting of cheetahs for trade threatens extinction. Image source: stock.adobe.com

Solution

The cheetah is a fascinating animal due to its graceful appearance and incredible speed. In addition to its important role in preserving the ecosystem, we can help prevent these species’ extinction by

Promoting environmental conservation initiatives,
Raising public awareness,
and implementing sustainable practices.

Sources

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