The Species Survival Plan for Cheetahs

The world’s cheetah population in zoos is carefully monitored through an international studbook, a database of information about a species in zoos, including the gender, parentage, date of birth, and location of each individual. The North American population is managed by the Species Survival Plan (SSP).

Wildlife Safari in Oregon began breeding cheetahs in 1972 and successfully produced a litter the following year. Since then, 178 cheetahs have been born at the park, making them one of the top breeders of cheetahs in the U.S. and the western hemisphere. They have developed a partnership with the Association of Zoo and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan for cheetahs, so that cubs born at that park have populated zoos across the U.S.

The addition of new genetics to the population and the promise of cubs are significant to the U.S. population of cheetahs, as according to the breeding recommendations from the American Zoo Association’s Cheetah SSP, the number of cubs born in the U.S. dropped significantly during the 1990s. If American zoos are to maintain a sustainable population of cheetahs, successful breeding must increase and remain at a high level through the rest of this decade. Having these amazing cats in zoo populations allows us to educate the pubic and conduct research that helps the endangered cheetah both in captivity and the wild.

The Species Survival Plan carefully investigates the genetics of each animal in the population and, working with a team of highly skilled managers, veterinarians, and scientists, makes breeding and transfer recommendations for all cheetahs in North American zoos. They also monitor research projects designed to investigate cheetah nutrition, disease, reproduction, behavior, and physiology. Investigations of cheetah physiology are conducted in a full and active collaboration with the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), based in Namibia.

This research and education organization is devoted to conserving the wild cheetah and is recognized worldwide as a leader in cheetah conservation. The CCF works closely with Namibian veterinarians and government organizations to rehabilitate and house orphaned cheetahs, which are then studied to help answer research questions related to cheetah biology and become part of education programs passing information on to the public.

More tomorrow… Jacquie