It is well known that the biodiversity of our planet is decreasing at an alarming rate. Extinction is not species specific but rather it can affect all those in the animal kingdom. Cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatus, one of the best known and fascinating of the big cats have declining populations. They have been red listed by the ICUN because of the vulnerability of their populations. There are a number of reasons for the falling numbers: lack of genetic variability, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and hunting. The latter three factors are commonly found as the cause of most endangered fauna and flora species but the first factor mentioned is rarely found in the animal kingdom. The lack of genetic variability is almost a contradiction but the one down fall of this amazing predator. As well the combination of habitat fragmentation and low genetic variability leads to genetic isolation. This causes problems in the management of an already vulnerable species.
What is being proposed in the project is the development of a new reserve for the conservation of Cheetahs. The criteria being used for this site selection is primarily based what is needed to produce a viable population size rather than it's possible economic benefits through ecotourism. There are only two free ranging populations found in Africa. The larger of the two populations is found in the two countries of Namibia and Botswana, which is thought to be around 2500 individuals. The next largest population is found mostly in Kenya and Tanzania, which numbers around 1500 individuals. The country where the site selection is to take place is Kenya. The populations in Kenya and Tanzania are more at risk than those in the south west of the continent. My interest and experience in Kenya also played a key role in choosing a country. I have spent just over three months in Kenya last spring participating in an academic program as well as traveling for an equal portion of my time. While in the academic program we attended a number of seminars by the KWS, which controls the conservation of wildlife in Kenya. Also, in my travels I visited 7 of the parks and reserves in Kenya and a number of other private parks. These sites ranged in the types of ecosystems from rainforest to open savannahs. This provided some in sight as to how the design and location of the park influences the type of species and population size found in the park of reserve.
My interests as a university student are greatly concentrated on the importance
and conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity is a direct result and also
facilitates the process of evolution. One of the major problems faced by ecologist
is the maintenance of the evolutionary process. The cheetahs of Kenya are
a prime example of the difficulty of maintaining this process. Human impact
have dwindled the populations to such small numbers that with out intervention
the Cheetah will soon become extinct. By conserving large areas of suitable
habitat and implementing breeding programs to compensate for genetic isolation
the populations may have a chance.