{"id":16143,"date":"2025-05-22T11:19:21","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T10:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/blog\/?p=16143"},"modified":"2025-09-16T07:54:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T06:54:20","slug":"spotting-the-future-cheetahs-set-to-return-to-south-luangwa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/blog\/spotting-the-future-cheetahs-set-to-return-to-south-luangwa\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotting the Future: Cheetahs Set to Return to South Luangwa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cheetahs may soon once again roam the open plains of Zambia\u2019s South Luangwa National Park. According to the Zambian Carnivore Programme\u2019s (ZCP)<\/a> 2024 Annual Impact Report, plans to reintroduce cheetahs to this iconic landscape are now being formalised, following years of groundwork, feasibility studies, and partner collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If successful, this would mark a significant milestone in Zambia\u2019s conservation story, restoring a charismatic species that has not been seen in the Luangwa Valley for over 20 years\u2014and possibly longer. It also reflects a growing global effort to protect and recover one of Africa\u2019s most endangered big cats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Species in Decline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus<\/em>) is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN<\/strong> Red List<\/strong><\/a>, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild. Threatened by habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and competition with larger carnivores like lions and hyenas, the cheetah has vanished from 90% of its historical range in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the lesser-known but increasingly serious threats to cheetahs\u2014particularly in East Africa\u2014is the illegal pet trade. Cubs are smuggled through the Horn of Africa into the Middle East to meet demand for exotic pets. The trade is not only devastating wild populations but also deeply cruel, with a high mortality rate among trafficked cubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheetah in Zambia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Zambia, cheetahs are now found only in the Greater Kafue and Greater Liuwa ecosystems, where ZCP and its partners are actively monitoring and protecting small populations. In 2024, ZCP tracked 44 individuals in 18 social groups and conducted 387 snare checks to safeguard them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The return of cheetahs to South Luangwa is part of a larger restoration initiative led by ZCP in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Conservation South Luangwa, the Cheetah Conservation Initiative, Frankfurt Zoological Society, and supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The aim is not only to re-establish the species but also to secure ecological corridors between protected areas through community support and resource protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Have Cheetahs Ever Lived in South Luangwa?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically, cheetahs ranged widely across Zambia, including parts of the Luangwa Valley. While some reports suggest sightings as recently as the 1980s, they have not been recorded in South Luangwa for decades. Some speculate a tiny remnant population may persist in remote areas, but there is currently no evidence of a viable or breeding population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Habitat Matters: What Makes a Landscape Cheetah-Friendly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheetahs thrive in open grassland and savanna environments that allow them to spot prey from a distance and unleash their explosive speed in pursuit. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs do not rely on stealth or ambush; they chase prey in short, high-speed bursts. For this reason, visibility and space are critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the world\u2019s last strongholds for cheetah\u2014like Tanzania\u2019s Serengeti and Kenya\u2019s Masai Mara\u2014are characterised by vast, open plains with abundant medium-sized antelope like Thomson\u2019s gazelle and impala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Luangwa, by contrast, is a more wooded ecosystem, which makes the habitat suitability more marginal. However, there are open floodplains and grasslands\u2014especially in the northern and southern extremes of the park\u2014which could provide suitable hunting grounds, particularly with active landscape management and anti-snaring measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best Places to See Cheetah in the Wild<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cheetah
Cheetah brothers, Olare Motorogi, Greater Mara – Sara White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While cheetah numbers are declining, there are still several reliable locations for sightings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n