Species Specific Efforts

Cheetahs: Disappearing in the Wild

In the last 100 years, over 90% of the world's wild cheetah population has been lost. Extinct in 20+ countries, cheetahs are now found in only 23% of their historic African range due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and illegal trade. Learn more about cheetahs. by viewing our Cheetah page.

Habitat Loss

Cheetahs require vast tracts of land with suitable prey. As humans expand into their natural habitat it becomes destroyed or fragmented, and severely lessens the number of animals a piece of land can support. Many areas across Africa that once supported thousands of cheetahs now can barely support a handful.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

While Africa has numerous protected parks and wildlife reserves, cheetahs struggle in these areas due to the high amount of other larger predators that compete for the same prey and will kill cheetahs given the opportunity. Therefore, roughly 90% of cheetahs live outside of protected lands on private farmlands. This creates another set of challenges as farmer's livestock - and livelihood - come into contact with cheetahs on their farmland.

Illegal Wildlife Trade

For thousands of years, cheetahs have been sought after for hunting and as a status symbol signifying wealth. Today, there is still a high demand for cheetahs as pets. The big cats are illegally captured in the wild and then smuggled to different parts of the world. Only one in six cheetah cubs survive the journey, therefore more are smuggled.

You Can Help

Organizations like the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) are working to combat these threats. And they've had success, but they need our help. This summer, join Sunset Zoo in raising funds to support CCF's efforts in one of three ways:

  1. Donate online
  2. Visit the Zoo's gift shop and purchase a $50 conservation package complete with a cheetah plush
  3. Visit the Zoo's cheetah exhibit and contribute through the donation box at the lower viewing windows

More About Cheetah Conservation Fund

Founded in Namibia in 1990, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the global leader in research and conservation of cheetahs. Saving this magnificent animal from extinction requires innovative conservation methods that address the welfare of both cheetah and human populations over large landscapes. CCF’s programs have effectively stabilized and even increased the wild cheetah population in Namibia. CCF is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Namibia, with operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and partner organizations in several other nations. Learn more at the Cheetah Conservation Fund website.

Jane Goodall Institute: Saving Chimpanzees from Extinction

In 1900, an estimated 1 million chimpanzees lived in the wild. Today, there are as few as 340,000. The Jane Goodall Institution is on a mission to save chimpanzees from extinction.

Poaching

Despite the fact that all killing, capture or consumption of great apes illegal, poaching is the greatest threat to most Chimpanzees. Due to their low population densities and slow reproductive rates, hunting often leads to the local extirpation of chimpanzee populations. 

Habitat Loss

There are many factors that feed into the habitat loss of chimpanzees. Many chimpanzees are displaced due to the conversion of forest to farmland, logging, mining, and oil, oil palm plantations, and construction of road projects. 

Disease

A major driver in the decline of chimpanzee populations is infectious disease, especially Ebola virus disease (EVD). Since the early 1990s, about 14% of their total area has been affected by EVD. The virus is still present and can cause rapid outbreak between individuals. 

You Can Help

Organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute are working to combat these threats. And they've had success, but they need our help. Sunset Zoo raises funds yearly for the Jane Goodall Institute. Support their mission in one of three ways:

  1. Donate online
  2. Round up for conservation in the Gift Shop or Concession Stand
  3. Visit the Zoo's indoor Chimpanzee exhibit and drop change into the "twirl a coin" machine