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Durant, S.M.
IUCN Red List assessment for cheetah - a species to watch
2022 Cat News (76): 14-16
The recent IUCN Red List Assessment of the cheetah_ Acinonyx jubatus _demonstrated evidence of ongoing and increasing threats to cheetah due to rapid anthropogenic change across the species range. While the overall category of threat for the species remained as Vulnerable, the species is approaching the category Endangered. Moreover, a large proportion of the cheetah population (67%) occurs on unprotected land and is exposed to elevated threats, yet is largely unmonitored. We therefore recommended that the Cheetah be designated a "Species under Observation". This designation requires ongoing close monitoring of the status of the cheetah, with a reassessment after a minimum three-year period or as soon as new information emerges. Given the rising human pressures on the African continent, the next few decades will be challenging for the survival of cheetahs. Regular assessments and ongoing monitoring are needed to identify dangerous declines and provide an impetus for conservation interventions to rescue small and vulnerable populations.
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