Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes Series

Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation reports on the science and conservation of the cheetah. This volume demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of research and conservation efforts to study and protect the cheetah.

The book begins with chapters on the evolution, genetics, physiology, ecology and behavior of the species, as well as distribution reports from range countries. These introductory chapters lead into discussions of the challenges facing cheetah survival, including habitat loss, declining prey base, human-wildlife conflict, illegal trade, and newly-emerging threats, notably climate change. This book also focuses on conservation strategies and solutions, including environmental education and alternative livelihoods. Chapters on the role of captive cheetahs to conservation and the long-term research of the species are included, as are a brief discussion of the methods and analyses used to study the cheetah. The book concludes with the conservation status and future outlook of the species.

Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation is a valuable resource for the regional and global communities of cheetah conservationists, researchers, and academics. Although cheetah focussed the book provides information relevant to the study of broader topics such as wildlife conservation, captive breeding, habitat management, conservation biology and animal behaviour.

 Cover photograph by Angela Scott

Section 1: the Cheetah 1. A Brief History of Cheetah Conservation 2. History of the Cheetah–Human Relationship 3. The Cheetah: Evolutionary History and Paleoecology 4. Cheetah Rangewide Status and Distribution 5. Asiatic Cheetahs in Iran: Decline, Current Status and Threats 6. Conservation Genetics of the Cheetah: Genetic History and Implications for Conservation 7. Cheetah Specialization: Physiology and Morphology 8. Ecology of Free-Ranging Cheetahs 9. Behavior and Communication of Free-Ranging Cheetahs

Section 2: Conservation Threats 10. Drivers of Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Implications for the Design of Landscape Linkages for Cheetahs 11. The Status of Key Prey Species and the Consequences of Prey Loss for Cheetah Conservation in North and West Africa 12. The Impact of Climate Change on the Conservation and Survival of the Cheetah 13. The Costs and Causes of Human-Cheetah Conflict on Livestock and Game Farms 14. Pets and Pelts: Understanding and Combating Poaching and Trafficking in Cheetahs

Section 3: Conservation Solutions 15. Use of Livestock Guarding Dogs to Reduce Human-Cheetah Conflict 16. Improved and Alternative Livelihoods: Links Between Poverty Alleviation, Biodiversity and Cheetah Conservation 17. Coordination of Large Landscapes for Cheetah Conservation 18. Cheetah Conservation and Educational Programs 19. Protected Areas for Cheetah Conservation 20. Cheetah Translocation and Reintroduction Programs: Past, Present, and Future 21. Global Cheetah Conservation Policy: A Review of International Law and Enforcement

Section 4: Captive Cheetahs 22. History of Cheetahs in Zoos and Demographic Trends Through Managed Captive Breeding Programs 23. The Role of Zoos in Cheetah Conservation: Integrating Ex Situ and In Situ Conservation Action 24. Clinical Management of Captive Cheetahs 25. Diseases Impacting Captive and Free-Ranging Cheetahs 26. Nutritional Considerations for Captive Cheetahs 27. Reproductive Physiology of the Cheetah and Assisted Reproductive Techniques 28. Communicating the Conservation Message—Using Ambassador Cheetahs to Connect, Teach, and Inspire

Section 5: Techniques and Analyses 29. The Use of Remote Camera Trapping to Study Cheetahs: Past Reflections and Future Directions 30. Spoor Tracking to Monitor Cheetah Populations 31. Mining Black Gold—Insights from Cheetah Scat Using Noninvasive Techniques in the Field and Laboratory: Scat-Detection Dogs, Genetic Assignment, Diet and Hormone Analyses 32. Field Methods for Visual and Remote Monitoring of the Cheetah 33. Capture, Care, Collaring, and Collection of Biomedical Samples in Free-Ranging Cheetahs 34. Citizen Science in Cheetah Research 35. Social Science Methods to Study Human–Cheetah Interactions 36. Spatial and Landscape Analysis: Applications for Cheetah Conservation 37. Now You See them, Soon You Won’t: Statistical and Mathematical Models for Cheetah Conservation Management 38. A Review of Population Viability Analysis and Its Use in Cheetah Conservation

Section 6: The Future 39. The Conservation Status of the Cheetah 40. What Does the Future Hold for the Cheetah?

The regional and global community of cheetah conservationists and researchers, academics and students in the fields of wildlife conservation, captive breeding, habitat management, conservation biology, and animal behavior, and decision makers in governments within cheetah range states. Specific chapters will interest to a diverse audience, including readers interested in conservation genetics, ecology, behavior, captive breeding, community conservation, human-wildlife conflict, and related topics.

• Includes chapters by the world’s leading cheetah researchers and practitioners, who have focused their efforts on this high-profile species of conservation concern
• Provides findings as a combination of scientific detail and basic explanations so that they can be available not only to cheetah researchers and conservationists, but also to policy makers, business leaders, zoo managers, academics, students, and people interested in the cheetah and its future
• Presents the current knowledge of the species, helping lay the foundations and best practices for cheetah conservation and research worldwide
• Additional protocols and forms (which were provided by authors) can be found at the Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation companion site: https://www.elsevier.com/books-and-journals/book-companion/9780128040881