The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) holds the title of the world’s fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour in short bursts. The species is currently classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Their survival is tied to a limited and increasingly fragmented geographic range, a stark contrast to their historical distribution across two continents. The challenges they face are rooted in a combination of reduced habitat, loss of prey, and direct conflict with human populations.
Current Global Distribution
The modern map of the cheetah’s existence is highly fragmented, confined almost exclusively to Africa, with a very small, isolated population remaining in Asia. The total global population of mature adults is estimated to be around 6,517 individuals, scattered across 29 African countries and one country in the Middle East. The most significant strongholds are concentrated in the southern and eastern regions of the continent.
Southern Africa hosts the largest contiguous population, estimated at nearly 4,000 individuals, sparsely distributed across six countries, including Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia. Namibia, in particular, holds the largest single population of cheetahs globally. In East Africa, the species is found in the expansive savannas and grasslands of Tanzania and Kenya, including famous ecosystems like the Serengeti and the Masai Mara.
Beyond these strongholds, smaller, more isolated populations persist across North and Central Africa. These include pockets in countries like Algeria, Niger, the Central African Republic, and Chad. These populations exist in low densities and face considerable genetic and environmental pressures.
The Shrinking Map
The cheetah’s current restricted range is a shadow of its former vast distribution, which historically spanned across Africa and deep into Asia. The species once roamed across the entire African continent, excluding the central rainforests and the Sahara’s densest parts. Their historical Asian range extended from the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East, across the Caspian region and Transcaucasus, and into northern South Asia.
The dramatic loss of territory occurred primarily over the last century, with the species being extirpated from nearly all of its Asian habitat. Cheetahs were once present in countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. For example, the last wild cheetah in India was reportedly killed in 1947, marking the end of a long history on the subcontinent. This widespread contraction is a direct consequence of habitat loss, the decline of their primary prey species, and historical hunting practices.
Distinct Populations and Conservation Status
While the African cheetah populations are generally classified as Vulnerable, the distinct Asiatic subspecies faces a far more extreme conservation outlook. The Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is listed as Critically Endangered, with its existence confined almost entirely to the eastern-central arid region of Iran. This population is genetically isolated and numbers fewer than 50 individuals in the wild, based on recent surveys, making it one of the world’s rarest cats.
The tiny size of the Asiatic population creates severe genetic challenges, exacerbating their vulnerability to disease and environmental changes. They face unique pressures, including road accidents caused by highways fragmenting their remaining habitat, and the depletion of their primary prey, such as gazelles.
In contrast, the African populations, while facing similar threats, benefit from much larger numbers and more extensive protected areas, providing a buffer against local extinction events.
Required Habitat and Ecosystems
The cheetah’s distribution map is ultimately determined by its specific ecological needs, primarily revolving around open space and prey availability. As the fastest land mammal, the cheetah requires vast, open landscapes such as savannas, grasslands, and arid plains to effectively utilize its high-speed hunting strategy. Their pursuit of prey involves an explosive chase that demands unobstructed ground, unlike the ambush hunting favored by other large cats.
The species relies on a steady supply of medium-sized ungulates, including gazelles, impalas, and smaller antelopes. Cheetahs can have home ranges spanning hundreds of square miles, requiring large, connected landscapes to allow for movement in search of food.
Their presence is also limited by the density of larger, more aggressive predators like lions and spotted hyenas, who frequently steal a cheetah’s kill or prey on its cubs. Consequently, cheetahs are often found in areas where these competitors are less numerous, pushing them into more marginal, arid territories where their speed gives them a competitive edge.