Conservation needs of cheetah and wild dogsand related threats to their survival

The previous module provided some key information regarding the conservation biology of cheetahand African wild dog, which is the basis for this evaluation of their conservation needs and whatis threatening their survival. This module presents each threat in the context of the conservationneeds of the two species, helping to explain clearly why each threat is of concern.

1. CONSERVATION NEED: Large areas (>10 000km ) of contiguous habitats suitable for cheetahand wild dogs, with abundant prey:THREATS - Habitat loss/fragmentation/degradationNotes: Loss of habitat and its increasing fragmentation represents the greatest over-arching threat to both cheetah and wild dogs. Because both species live at such low

densities and range so widely, their populations require much larger areasof land to survive than do other carnivore species. For this reason, wild dogsand cheetah are more sensitive to habitat loss andfragmentation that are other large carnivores. In thelong term, conserving viable populations of wilddogs and cheetah is likely to need land areas far inexcess of 10 000km , unless very intensivemanagement can be maintained (eg. in the smallfenced reserves in South Africa). Fortunately, bothspecies have the ability to survive and breed in

human-dominated landscapes under the right circumstances - availablewild prey, permeable fences, tolerance to their presence, protected livestock, income generatedfrom their presence (tourism). We need to work to create these circumstances in areas that maybe protected, unprotected, or a combination of the two. They also have excellent dispersal abilities,so that conserving connecting habitat should make it possible to maintain gene flow betweenpopulations, and enable re-colonisation should recoverable areas of their range become suitableagain. New concerns in many range states are the impacts of large scale commercial agriculture(both agrarian and livestock), large scale extractive miningand power generation projects (eg. jatropha plantations andalso some carbon offset schemes).

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2. CONSERVATION NEED: Given the large areas needed to maintain viable populations of cheetah and wild dog sustainable coexistence between these two species and humans (and their domestic animals) is necessary:THREATS - Conflicts with livestock and/or game farmers. Disease from domestic dogs (mainly issue with wild dogs)Notes: Both cheetah and wild dogs are threatened by conflictwith livestock and game farmers in parts of their geographicalrange. While both species tend to prefer wild prey over livestockboth may kill livestock under some circumstances and are therefore killed by farmers. Such conflict may involve both subsistence pastoralists and commercial ranchers. As neither species regularly scavenges, they are less susceptible to poisoning than are other carnivores, such as hyaena and leopards, but may be shot or

speared. However, many projects throughout their range have been workingto develop livestock management techniques that prevent depredation and itis key to ensure that this knowledge and understanding (and the tolerance thatcomes with it) is spread throughout communities who keep livestock.In the case of game farms the farmed game often represent the two species’natural prey, there are few, if any, measures which can be taken to reducepredation by cheetah and wild dogs. Wild dogs are particularly unpopular withgame farmers not only because they take valuable game, but also because theirtendency to chase large prey into fences which can cause

serious damage to the fences. It is imperative that the conservationcommunity work with game farmers to encourage them whereverpossible to make use of the tourism potential of cheetah and wilddogs and not to view them as a cost to their industry.

Conservation needs of cheetah and wild dogsand related threats to their survival

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3. CONSERVATION NEED: Availability of wild prey populations and reduced mortality of bothadult and cubs/puppies to maintain viable populations.THREATS - Bushmeat trade through snaring and other forms of illegal hunting as this reduces prey populations. Overstocking of livestock. Illegal cheetah live animal capture, either adults (farmland) or cubs (Horn of Africa). Retaliatory killing of adults (farmlands).Notes: Both cheetah and wild dogs are highly efficient hunters, able to survive in areas of comparatively low prey density. Nevertheless, the worrying trend in many parts of their range is that wild prey is being lost to bush meat hunting (increasing in much of theirrange), high livestock densities, habitat conversion and/or veterinary cordon fences. As well as reducing the chances of cheetah and wild dog populations surviving, prey loss can also have serious indirect effects, since predationon livestock may become more frequent where wild prey are depletedintensifying conflict with livestock farmers.Although neither species is regularly targeted by snaring, both species

may become captured accidentally in snares set for other species,the snares usually set by people wanting meat for the bush meattrade and for their own family consumption. Such accidental snaringis a major source of wild dog mortality in many parts of southernAfrica and is the most serious threat to wild dog populations in

several areas of their range. While effects on cheetah populations are less well quantified,snared cheetah are reported and snaring my threaten some populations such as those in Kafue national park and along the Zambezi river in Zimbabwe. Infectious disease can have major impacts on wild dog populations. Rabies contributed to the extinction of the wild dog population in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in 1991 and there have been several outbreaks documented in southern Africa.

Both rabies and canine distemper viruses are maintained with populationsof domestic dogs, hence disease risks are likely to be particularly high for wilddogs living outside protected areas, or in areas where domestic dog populationsare increasing. Disease probably represents a smaller threat to cheetahs,although in some areas anthrax has caused substantial mortality. There isurgent need to initiate or revive veterinary vaccination campaigns in all range

states to prevent disease transmission from domestic dogs. Such campaigns would also be a major benefit to the human communities living with, or adjacent to cheetah and wilddog populations.Cheetah are rarely hunted for their fur anymore, of for cultural uses. However, high levels of illegal trade in live cheetah has been documented in the Horn of Africa for theMiddle East market, this trade resulting in a sink for cheetahsin this area. The focus of the trade is on cubs but often themother is killed when the cubs are removed from the den.Illegal trade in cheetahs has also been documented in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa and may be an increasing problem throughout the

southern African region. The main sink area for such trade in thelatter region appears to be the captive breeding industry of SouthAfrica. Wild dogs are occasionally taken for cultural uses (especiallyin Zimbabwe and Malawi) and there are a few documented casesof wild dog being captured for the sale as live animals, the marketbeing the Far East, but as present this use is probably uncommonto constitute a serious threat to the population viability. The challenge

to the conservation world is to find effective mechanisms to monitor trade in the two species to ensure that it is survival of wild populations.

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4. CONSERVATION NEED: Improved communications increase positive perceptions and senseof value of the species in their natural context.THREATS - Poor outreach to counter negative perceptions. Lack of awareness of cheetahand wild dog. A lack of a unified advocacy to trade in live cheetah and/or wild dogs.Notes: In many areas where cheetah and wild dog exist, thereis little or no communication between all stakeholders often resulting in resentment of wildlife authorities and the two species. There is also little understanding of the policy makersof the country as to the conservation needs, and importance of these two species. Forums at the local and national level are critical to creating a platform for open, transparent and therefore enabling discussions to take place, which in turn create awareness and interest in the conservation of cheetah and wild dog.

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5. CONSERVATION NEED: All management decisions evidence based and made to ensure that there are sustainable populations of prey and cheetah and wild dog.THREATS - Uninformed decisions made using inappropriate data.Notes: There is a tendency in range states with limited resources to import a managementmodel from a country with more resources (eg. USA, UK or other countries within Africa)

when in fact the models are inappropriate for the type of landscapeand the stakeholders involved (eg. use of substantial game fencesin areas of Africa where fences have never been used to protectwildlife/human communities). An alternative approach is to engagewith all stakeholders locally, review what mitigation options areavailable (see next module on Conflict mitigation) and worktogether to come up with an appropriate local solution, bearing

in mind the scale of landscape required for cheetah and wild dog conservation.

6. CONSERVATION NEED: Given the wide ranging nature of cheetah and wild dog and that many viable populations cross national borders, effective transboundary management and coordination (includes protection of prey populations, protection of habitat, combinedlaw enforcement and harmonious policies and legislation) is critical to the long term survival of these two species.THREATS - Limited boundary cooperation. Disjunction in policies and legislation across countries.Notes: The willingness to work boundaries to protect valuable natural resources such aswildlife and water is increasing throughout Africa, and cheetah and wild dog range statesare no exception. However, it is critical to continue to motivatefor improved transboundary cooperation wherever it is needed,enabling law enforcement agencies to cross national borders,and advocating for harmonised policies and legislations with regard to the protection and use of wildlife across range states(for example - managers should advocate for a united approachto illegal trade and for similar penalties to be in place in all range states).

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7. CONSERVATION NEED: Tourism that promotes and relies upon cheetah and wild dog should be encouraged as a means of increasing value of the two species.THREATS - Competing interests (mining, agriculture and power generation) and unregulatedtourism.Notes:Unregulated tourism has the capacity to threaten both cheetah and wild dog populations. In cheetah, negativeeffects of tourism may include interference with hunting,scaring cheetah away from kills to which they are unlikelyto return, and separation of mothers from cubs as a resultof interference from tourist vehicles. In wild dogs most impacts results from tourists visiting wild dog dens on footcausing the packs to move dens or even abandon their pups. Well regulated tourism must be encouraged in areas with cheetah and wild dog populations, as it has the potential to provide much needed revenue to communities in

the same area, and to wildlife authorities.

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