Excessive hunting has left Cheetah endangered. They can't run fast enough from hunters and traders of exotic pets. The number of cheetahs falls under just 7,100. Cheetahs are believed to live on only nine per cent of the land they once occupy.
The basic facts about cheetahs is that It is the world's fastest land animal. It has a long-legged body perfect build for speed. They are tan in color with black spots all over their body. Cheetahs eat mainly gazelles, wildebeest calves, impalas and smaller hoofed animals.
In 1900, the population of cheetahs was about 100,000. Today, it is believed to be dropping below 7,100. Young cubs are being sold at $10,000 on the black market.
Zimbabwe has left Cheetah endangered as well. The population has fallen from 1,200 to 170 individual in 16 years. The main cause is the major changes in the land tenure.
According to the Daily Mail, a study by the Zoological Society of London, the Wildlife Conservation Society and conservation organization Panthera, says Asian cheetah population has been hit hardest.
Asian cheetah today have only less than 50 individuals. They are located in one isolated pocket in Iran. Some may also be found in a few areas of the Indian subcontinent.
The authors are calling for an urgent attention to this. And re-categorizing of the species from vulnerable to extinct. Lead author Sarah Durant said, that the secretive nature of this species makes it harder to gather more information about it, leading to its plight being overlooked.
Panthera's Cheetah Programme director said, that it is a must to protect the habitat of the far-reaching cats. If not, this may lead to losing the species forever.
According to the BBC, study shows that half of the world's cheetahs are located in across six countries in southern Africa.
Cheetah endangered animals require large spaces for hunting. With the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild. It is most likely to be extinct than what was previously thought.
