Disappearing Spots

A new study led by ZSL, Panthera and WCS con rms that the iconic cheetah is sprinting towards extinction

Only 7,100 cheetahs are estimated to exist in the wild today*

*An approximate, best available global population estimate for adult and adolescent cheetahs combined

Due to recent declines, scientists are calling for the cheetah to be up-listed from Vulnerable to Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Least Concern Near Vulnerable Endangered Critically Extinct in Extinct Threatened Endangered the Wild

Consult the Map The cheetah has been driven out of 91% of its historic range in Africa and Asia

<200 <50 The Saharan cheetah is Fewer than 50 critically critically endangered, with endangered Asiatic fewer than 200 individuals cheetahs remain, all remaining in Iran

6 countries More than half of the world's cheetahs live in one population stretching across six countries Historic Range

Current Range

79% of all cheetah populations contain 100 or fewer individuals

Cheetah Threats

Illegal trade in cheetahs as Habitat loss and fragmentation exotic pets, particularly cubs

Persecution and retaliatory Illegal poaching and tra cking killing by livestock owners of cheetah skins and body parts

Loss of prey due to over-hunting Deaths by vehicles on roads by people

Beyond Borders Most cheetahs live outside of protected areas where they are often exposed to high levels of human-caused threats.

Case Study: Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s cheetah population has recently plummeted due to severe pressures on the big cat and its habitat outside of protected areas

1999 1,200

2015 1,000 170 Cheetah home ranges can exceed 1,000 km2 In 16 years, Zimbabwe lost 85% 85% of its cheetahs

Photographs by Nick Garbutt and Christian Sperka

Visit panthera.org/disappearing-spots to learn how you can save cheetahs