South Africa's free-roaming cheetahs are disappearing at a rate that surprised even the scientists who counted them. The country's first national census of wild cheetahs outside fenced reserves found fewer than 400 adult animals remain, a number far lower than previous estimates.
A count that took years to complete
The census was a joint effort by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the University of Cape Town, and several provincial conservation agencies. Researchers spent three years surveying more than 200,000 square kilometers across South Africa's nine provinces. They used camera traps, genetic analysis of scat samples, and direct sightings to identify individual cheetahs by their unique spot patterns.
The results showed that free-roaming cheetahs now occupy only 17 percent of their historical range in the country. Most of the remaining animals live on private farmland and game ranches, not in national parks. The largest population cluster was found in Limpopo province, where about half of all free-roaming cheetahs were recorded.
Why local communities are feeling the loss
For farmers and rural communities, cheetahs have long been a source of both pride and conflict. The cats sometimes prey on livestock, leading to retaliatory killings. But many landowners have also participated in conservation programs that compensate them for losses and promote coexistence.
The census data revealed that the decline is driven by habitat fragmentation, road kills, and illegal killing. In some areas, cheetah numbers dropped by more than 60 percent compared to earlier regional surveys. The researchers noted that the species is now functionally extinct in several provinces where it was once common.
What the numbers mean for the species
South Africa is considered a stronghold for cheetahs globally. The country's total cheetah population, including animals in fenced reserves, is estimated at around 1,300. But the free-roaming group is genetically important because it maintains natural behaviors and dispersal patterns that captive populations cannot replicate.
The census provides a baseline that conservation groups say is essential for planning. Without it, efforts to protect cheetahs were based on guesswork. Now, for the first time, there is a clear picture of where the animals are and how fast they are vanishing.
