Conservation efforts
Cheetah has been protected under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1 July 1975 which means commercial international trade in wild-sourced cheetah is prohibited.
The low density of cheetahs throughout their range means they require conservation action on a scale that is seldom seen in terrestrial conservation. This includes transboundary cooperation, land use planning across large landscapes to maintain habitat connectivity, and human wildlife conflict mitigation. Most cheetah range (76%) is on unprotected lands where they are often persecuted in retaliation for livestock or game depredation.
In Africa, nearly all range states are actively involved with the Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs (RWCP). As well as providing a regional framework, these strategies also provide a framework for national conservation action planning.
There are also a number of different projects established across southern and eastern Africa that are either dedicated specifically to the conservation and research of cheetah, or to the guild of large carnivores. Many of these projects carry out important site-based conservation activities that benefit cheetah, and some also provide support for capacity development of national wildlife authorities.
In Iran, the Asiatic cheetah is completely protected. The main protected areas for this species are Kavir National Park, Khar Touran National Park, Naybandan Wildlife Refuge, Bafgh Protected Area and Dar Anjir Wildlife Refuge.
The IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group maintains a Cheetah Conservation Compendium with a reference library and detailed country information (www.catsg.org) which provides a useful resource for publications relating to all aspects of Cheetah ecology and conservation.
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