The density, occupancy and movement patterns of the North-west African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in the Sudano-Sahel

Shams, Ali

The density, occupancy and movement patterns of the North-west African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in the Sudano-Sahel

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has the smallest global population among large carnivores, living in isolated populations within fragmented patches of natural habitat in their African and Asian range. This includes the Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), an endangered subspecies that has experienced alarming declines in population size, habitat range, and genetic diversity. Currently, the population status of the Northwest African cheetah in the Sahara and Sudano-Sahel regions is unknown, with estimates based largely on expert opinion. Obtaining accurate population parameters, or even fundamental physiological and behavioural information, for large, rare carnivores poses significant challenges due to their elusive nature, extensive spatial requirements, and low population densities, especially in arid and semi-arid environments. Camera traps have emerged as a cost-effective and non-invasive method for monitoring large carnivores in areas with low densities. Additionally, GPS collars and telemetry provide valuable data on animal movements, behaviour, and range use, supporting conservation and management efforts. Combined, these methods offer multiple benefits, including tracking habitat use and interactions with competitors and prey. In this thesis, I provide the first assessment of the population status, habitat use, activity and movement patterns for cheetahs living in the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex of Benin and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem (GZE) of Chad. I used camera traps to explore both density and the probability of habitat use for cheetahs and GPS data from tracking collars to analyse movement patterns, habitat use/preference and home range size for A.j. hecki within select protected areas (PAs). My results reveal a small population of < 100 individuals, with only a few of them living in the safe zones of PAs. Occupancy models highlight the influence of interspecific competition with large carnivores such as lions (Panthera leo), limited preferred prey availability, and the pervasive impacts of human activities. GPS collar data show that Northwest African cheetahs have large ranges and demonstrate significant variation in movement patterns with region and season. Large ranges increase their exposure to both anthropogenic threats and larger competitors. Habitat selection analyses suggest that cheetahs prefer open landscapes with minimal human disturbance but are forced into suboptimal habitats due to multiple ecological factors. The retaliatory killing of one of the GPS-collared cheetahs in Pendjari by armed poachers, and another one by spotted hyenas, illustrates the acute vulnerability of this subspecies, even within formally protected landscapes. For A. j. hecki, already low numbers in geographically isolated patches face serious challenges from ongoing habitat fragmentation outside protected areas, which are further exacerbated by wide-scale terrorist activity and political instability in regions like Niger and Burkina Faso. These factors severely hamper both routine monitoring and conservation efforts for this critically endangered subspecies. There is an urgent need for integrated and adaptive conservation strategies. Including transboundary collaborative conservation management plans to address the ecological connectivity between fragmented habitats across political borders. Such collaboration is critical in regions like the WAP Complex, where the survival of this subspecies depends on coordinated actions across national boundaries. In addition to in-situ approaches, this study identifies the necessity of ex-situ conservation measures, such as metapopulation management, to safeguard the remaining population. A combination of immediate and long-term strategies, grounded in robust ecological data and international cooperation, is vital to secure the future of the Northwest African cheetah. These efforts must transcend traditional conservation methods, embracing a multi-faceted approach to tackle the complex interplay of ecological, anthropogenic, and political challenges that threaten this iconic subspecies.

Keywords

cheetah

northwest Africa

Reference:

Collections

PhD / Doctoral

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