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African Wildlife Conservation

Cheetah Conservation

Despite their status as the fastest land mammal on earth, cheetah are fast running out of time with an estimated 9000 to 12,000 remaining in the wild. The cheetah once ranged throughout all of Africa and across all of Asia. Today, cheetah are only found in Africa and a few small, isolated pockets of land in Iran.

Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors are working in partnership with the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust in South Africa to track and relocate problem cheetah away from local villages. We are proud to assist the efforts of De Wildt’s crucial program in securing the future of this threatened and truly magnificent big cat.

Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors are also working in partnership with Cheetah Outreach in South Africa, supporting the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Program, working to reduce human/cheetah conflict. Human/cheetah conflict is the biggest threat to their survival.

A weight has recently been lifted off the shoulders of our partners at Cheetah Outreach. One of South Africa's top pharmaceutical companies heard of the recurring problems with tick infestations in the Anatolian Shepherd Dogs and has offered their product for testing and improving to combat the issue. They have also offered a deworming product for use within the programme, specifically formulated to kill the spirurid nematode Spirocerca lupi that occurs in the Kalahari area of South Africa where the programme is based (Bray, Tosca and Vostershoop).

We are also happy to report that there were no serious injuries or any deaths this past month and that all the dogs have performed well. More evidence of cheetah on farms where Anatolians have been placed has been collected than ever before, with more sightings, tracks and scat reported by farmers. This news is significant and validates our conservation efforts.