Camera Trap Survey Finds Only 83 Free-Roaming Cheetahs in South Africa
A survey utilizing camera traps over three and a half years has revealed that South Africa's free-roaming cheetah population may consist of as few as 83 adults, a stark decline from the earlier estimate of 600. Conducted by Ashia Cheetah Conservation, the Free-Roaming Cheetah Census employed 389 camera traps, resulting in 5.2 million captured images. Project coordinator Marna Smit highlighted that while AI was used for image classification, human verification was essential. The survey also documented an extremely rare king cheetah. This population, often associated with livestock damage, resides on private and commercial farmlands adjacent to Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Smit stated that this survey establishes the most precise baseline for assessing the population's condition and potential decline.
Key facts
- A three-and-a-half-year camera trap survey found far fewer free-roaming cheetahs in South Africa than previously thought
- Three field teams managing 389 camera traps shot 5.2 million images for the Free-Roaming Cheetah Census
- The census was initiated and conducted by Ashia Cheetah Conservation
- AI classified the images but humans still had to verify the results, with Marna Smit saying AI is only great about 70% of the time
- The survey caught an ultra-rare king cheetah marked by unusual stripes on its coat
- Previous estimates put the free-roaming cheetah population at 600 mature individuals, but the study puts the real total as low as just 83 adults
- South Africa's cheetah population is divided into four categories: captive, private game reserves and national parks, semi-protected populations in Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and free-roaming
- Free-roaming cheetahs persist in private and commercial farmlands along the borders with Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
Entities
Artists
- Marna Smit
Institutions
- Ashia Cheetah Conservation
- Daily Maverick
- PetaPixel
- Kruger National Park
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Locations
- South Africa
- Kruger National Park
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- Namibia
- Botswana
- Zimbabwe