Endangered Species: Focus On the Cheetah

Endangered Species (Cheetah)

Endangered Species: Focus On the Cheetah

The term endangered species defines species at risk of becoming extinct. Unfortunately this happens all over the world and the conservation of our fauna and flora should become a bigger priority for us all.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation concerned with conservation all over the world. The IUCN has categorised the endangered species of the world into categories according to their rate of extinction and the amount of the type of animal left in the world:

Extinct
Extinct in the wild
Critically endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near threatened
Least concern

Captive breeding programs are done all over the world. The aim is to save species from becoming endangered and eventually becoming extinct. These programs offer the process of breeding rare or endangered species in human controlled environments with restricted settings. Most of these programs are good, but sometimes the captive breeding population is too small and inbreeding can happen which has negative effects.

The private sector like game farms and nature reserves have done a lot to conserve endangered species by protecting their own stock and educating visitors about the importance of protecting animals .
Reasons why animals become endangered include:

Poaching – the illegal hunting or catching of animals on lands that is not owned by the poachers or is under official protection. The poaching of rhinos for their horns is currently a serious threat to rhinos in South Africa.
Over hunting – hunting of certain animals and the amounts hunted is not properly regulated. This has happened to various animals and is currently happening in the sea as well – certain fish species are under threat due to a high demand.
Increasing land development – as the population of mankind grows, so does the amount of land we require. People are developing new types of infrastructure and building for all sorts of reasons and the huge pieces of land that animals were once allowed to roam are becoming smaller and smaller.

Endangered species per continent include:

Asia – Giant Panda and Snow Leopard
North America – California Condor and Gray Wolf
Australia – Kangaroo and Koala
South America – Monarch Butterfly and Armadillo
Europe – Arctic Fox and Peregrine Falcon
Africa – Cheetah and Rhino

Focus On the Cheetah

The cheetah, known as the world’s fastest animal on land, is on the list of endangered species in Africa and conservation groups or organisations all over the world are trying to emphasise this cat’s conservation.

The cheetah can reach speeds up to 110km/h within seconds and when it is content will purr just like a domestic cat. It poses no threat to humans and will only feel the need to attack when they or their cubs are threatened. When they do feel threatened, they will indicate this by hissing and spitting while chirping. A little known fact about the cheetah is that although it is a predator and a cat, it cannot roar like the lion.

It is our duty as humans to ensure endangered species like the cheetah do not become extinct.

Endangered Species (Cheetah)

Are you interested in volunteering at the Dell Cheetah Centre and helping us save the cheetah?