Study shows cheetahs in African savannah may soon become extinct

Cheetahs are an iconic animal on the African savannah, but scientists warn that this majestic cat and other large predators are on the verge of extinction, and humans are to blame.

Along with spotted mammals, there are wild dogs and hyenas, which may soon become extinct due to habitat loss, human persecution, and reduced prey.

Researchers from Oxford University found that the plight of the animals is overlooked due to the focus on lions, leopards and other large predators and regions such as South AfricaKenya, North West and Central Africa are underrepresented.

In particular, 26 countries do not currently have published estimates, notably Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Chad.

Identifying knowledge gaps will improve conservation efforts by identifying funding, investment and priorities, the scientists say.

Cheetahs living in the African savannah are on the verge of extinction, but the lack of attention to the region has left their dwindling numbers unnoticed.

Cheetahs living in the African savannah are on the verge of extinction, but the lack of attention to the region has left their dwindling numbers unnoticed.

Lead author Dr Paolo Strampelli of the University of Oxford said: “Research is heavily biased in favor of lions and against striped hyenas, despite the latter being the species with the widest continental range.”

“African wild dogs have also received negative attention from researchers, although this is partly due to their relatively limited distribution.”

The African savannah ecosystem is a tropical grassland with warm temperatures year-round and seasonal rainfall.

Savannah is characterized by grasses and small or scattered trees and is the largest biome in southern Africa, covering 46 percent of the region.

Savannah (dark brown) is characterized by grasses and small or scattered trees and is the largest biome in South Africa, covering 46 percent of the region.

Savannah (dark brown) is characterized by grasses and small or scattered trees and is the largest biome in South Africa, covering 46 percent of the region.

It covers Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivor, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya , Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa.

Scientists estimate that there are fewer than 8,000 African cheetahs in all of Africa.

Due to the lack of careful study of the savannah, scientists cannot determine how many of them live in this region, but probably less than half.

Data from 2016 showed that the population is about 2,000 people, and 90 percent of them live in protected areas.

“Our results highlight the urgent need for additional cheetah population estimates, especially in northern, western and central Africa,” Strampelli said.

“Because of the country’s large area, research in Chad and Ethiopia should be considered a priority.”

Hyenas thrive throughout Africa, numbering over 100,000 individuals, but in the savannah, this number is drastically reduced.

However, wild dogs suffer the most – about 70 adults remain in the wild.

Study in a journal PeerJ is the first of its kind based on a systematic review of population estimates over the past two decades.

The international team has found that biodiversity monitoring can be unevenly distributed or carried out where it is most needed.

Computer models showed that the estimates were biased towards South Africa and Kenya. Northern, western and central Africa are underrepresented.

Hyenas thrive throughout Africa, numbering over 100,000 individuals, but in the savanna their numbers are dwindling.

Hyenas thrive throughout Africa, numbering over 100,000 individuals, but in the savanna their numbers are dwindling.

However, wild dogs suffer the most - about 70 adults remain in the wild.

However, wild dogs suffer the most – about 70 adults remain in the wild.

Most of the studies have been carried out in tourism areas under government control; unprotected and trophy hunting regions received less attention.

Reducing bias will help ensure an adequate knowledge base for all conservation-important species and areas, potentially improving their prospects, the scientists say.

Strampelli and colleagues urged donors and foreign researchers to involve local scientists, students and practitioners as much as possible in future assessments.

These include the provision of training, funding and equipment. Donors and sponsors should encourage efforts in understudied regions and species.

This will ensure saving is where it’s most needed. An assessment of the striped hyena population is required.

Further estimates of the African wild dog population are needed, especially given that the species is critically endangered.

Such efforts are especially needed in countries considered critical for this species.

Some countries, including Botswana and Tanzania, have not had recent assessments.

“There is an urgent need for additional cheetah population estimates, especially in northern, western and central Africa,” Strampelli said.

Due to the large country coverage, studies in Chad and Ethiopia should be prioritized.

“As with the African wild dog, the development and standardization of methods for monitoring the cheetah population, including the study of social science-based approaches, is encouraged.”