- Large-scale deforestation has fragmented and reduced cheetah habitats.
- Trees serve as natural cover and shade for cheetahs and their prey.
- The loss of forests eliminates hunting grounds and forces cheetahs to live in smaller and more vulnerable areas.
Human Settlements and Agriculture:
- The conversion of natural lands into agricultural fields, human settlements, and urban areas further encroaches on cheetah habitats.
- It also leads to the fragmentation and isolation of cheetah populations.
Livestock Farming:
- The expansion of livestock farming (especially cattle) has significantly reduced the availability of wild prey species for cheetahs and increased competition for resources.
Hunting and Poaching:
- Cheetahs have been illegally hunted for their fur, skins, and other body parts.
- They have also been killed as a form of predator control to protect livestock.
Other Factors:
- Roads, railways, and other infrastructure development can disrupt cheetah habitats and fragment their territories.
- Climate change and altered weather patterns can affect prey populations and cheetah habitats, disrupting the delicate balance of ecosystems.