Cheetah Program

Like lions, cheetahs form male coalitions as a means of survival after maturing and separating from their mothers. And for cheetahs –– a species whose wild population only numbers around 7,100 –– coalitions are extremely important to increase the chances of survival, as the number of cheetahs continues to decline.

Learn about how we work with partners in Angola, a landscape critical to the survival of numerous African carnivores, including wild cats. Hear from a woman community game guard about what makes her job so important to wild cats — and us.  

In a country of lions, leopards and cheetahs, we are uncovering mysteries every day. But on the plains of Angola, we still have much to learn about the under-researched state of the country’s wildlife.

Zambia’s Greater Kafue Ecosystem, with Kafue National Park at its core, is a kingdom for wild cats. Part of the KAZA TFCA (Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area), the Greater Kafue Ecosystem is a critical habitat for three species of big cats — lions, leopards and cheetahs. Panthera, together with the Zambian Carnivore Programme and Musekese Conservation, study and support the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Zambia’s statutory authority to protect big cats and other wildlife in the ecosystem.

How much do you know about the fastest land mammal in the world? Want to learn more about these spotted cats? Panthera’s Field Notes Blog has got you covered for all your cheetah content. Learn what it’s like to zoom across the African plains. 

February 14, 2022

Today is Valentine’s Day! On this romantic date, we’re showing our love for wild cats. And if you don’t have a special someone to spend the day with, we’ve got you covered. Check out these big cat dating profiles and see who you’re most compatible with. Love is in the air!

July 16, 2021

In this Field Notes blog, SMART Coordinator for Zambia and Zimbabwe Choolwe Mulenga explains how SMART software has made it easier to analyze, report and store data in a secure manner and how this amazing and innovative technology helps us protect wild cats and the wild places where they live.

Panthera’s road to Luengue-Luiana National Park began in 2015 with a comprehensive survey of the park’s potential following decades of civil war. The survey, conducted in cooperation with the Angolan Ministry of Environment, assessed the status and distribution of lions, other large carnivores and key herbivores, in both Luengue-Luiana and Mavinga National Parks. 

July 17, 2018

During the first 18 months of their lives, cheetah cubs learn the essential skills for hunting and being cheetahs from their mums. They rely on them for food and protection against other predators during this vital and precarious time. Then, they reach maturity, gain independence and separate from their mothers.

But siblings often stay together into adolescence. Around the age of 1.5-2 years old, sibling groups will break apart. Brothers usually stay together to form coalitions, and female siblings further separate to live out solitary lives.

Sebastian Kennerknecht is a wildlife conservation photographer who often partners with Panthera.

After the amazing face-to-face lion encounter I described in my last blog post, I was called away to a group of sub-adult cheetahs with Panthera biologist Xia Stevens and Viktor, a game scout, during my most recent conservation trip to Zambia's Kafue National Park.

Editor's Note: A version of this blog also appeared in Travel Africa magazine.

The world’s fastest land animal is sprinting toward extinction—but it has advocates pulling out all the stops to intervene. Here, Dr. Kim Young-Overton, Director of our Cheetah Program, tells us her favorite facts about this cat famous for its speed and spots, as well as the threats it faces and what conservationists are doing to address them.