habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Cheetahs are habitat generalists and as such can survive where sufficient food is available and threats are tolerable. In South Africa, the free-roaming population and the two largest protected populations (KNP and KTP) occur in the Savannah biome. Metapopulation reserves are located in the following biomes: Savannah (35); Thicket (6); Grasslands (4); Nama Karoo (3); Fynbos (2) and Succulent Karoo (1). Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals, and catch their prey, principally small- to mid-sized ungulates, in high speed chases up to 103 km/hour (29 m/s) (Wilson et al. 2013), over distances of hundreds of metres. Other prey range from ground-dwelling birds and small mammals, such as hares, up to large ungulates such as wildebeests, Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) or Eland (Tragelaphus oryx) (see references within Durant et al. 2015). Unlike other African predators, they rarely scavenge and do not remain long with their kills, some of which may be stolen by other carnivores, but they are energetically well adapted to cope with this (Scantlebury et al. 2014).In comparison with other big cats, Cheetahs occur at relatively low densities (10â30% of typical densities for other large cat species in prime habitat; Durant 2007). Caro (1994) attributes lower Cheetah densities to interspecific competition, especially with larger species such as Lions (Panthera leo) and Spotted Hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) that can kill cubs, but this assumption is increasingly disputed in the literature (Swanson et al. 2014; Mills & Mills 2014). Additionally, on Namibian farmlands, where Lions and Spotted Hyaenas have been eradicated, Cheetahs still occur at low densities of 0.2 individuals / 100 km² (Marker 2002).Ecosystem and cultural services: The Cheetah is an umbrella species that requires large areas of natural or near-natural habitats. As such, by conserving Cheetah, many other species and habitats can be protected (Caro 2003). Furthermore, it is an indicator species of a functional ecosystem with medium-sized herbivores (Dalerum et al. 2008), and can be used to demonstrate good management and a healthy biodiverse area. Finally, they can play a key ecological role in sustaining biodiversity in the lower trophic levels, particularly in areas where it is the only large carnivore present. Cheetahs can also regulate herbivore numbers in reserves where hunting or live sale is not practical or desirable. Cheetah are a key tourist species wherever they occur, bringing in revenue to both state and private lands. As they are not a danger to people, and rarely take livestock where sufficient wild prey is available, Cheetah are a potentially good species for community conservation and eco-tourism initiatives.
