Abstract
AbstractLarge carnivores are frequently released for conservation purposes, but early efforts struggled with inadequate monitoring and reporting, resulting in poor understanding of success. Although managers have improved release practice and monitoring, the use of orphaned, captive-raised large carnivores for release remains controversial because of the potential influence of captivity and the possible lack of natural behaviours in such individuals. Yet, rehabilitating orphaned individuals for release could help mitigate pressures on vulnerable wild populations. We present a case study on the rearing, rehabilitation and release of wild-born cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus that were rescued as orphans in Namibia. Our aim was to develop a methodological framework for cheetah release planning and post-release management based on the outcome of release trials conducted during 2004–2018. Between 2001 and 2012, we rescued 86 orphaned cheetahs from the wild. Of these, 36 (42%) were selected as release candidates. We found high success rates (75–96%) of selected individuals in achieving independence post-release. Additionally, annual survival estimates for rehabilitated individuals that reached independence were comparable to those of wild counterparts described by other studies, and some rehabilitated individuals reproduced with wild conspecifics. Our findings demonstrate the ability of wild-born, captive-raised cheetahs to transition back into the wild with strategic pre- and post-release management directed towards optimizing survival. This includes selecting appropriate release candidates, forming artificial coalitions, balancing habituation levels during captivity, choosing appropriate release sites, and providing strategic support during post-release monitoring. We encourage scientists and managers to implement and refine our protocol for rehabilitation throughout the cheetah's current and historic range.
Highlights
The global decline in cheetah Acinonyx jubatus populations has led to their current IUCN Red List categorization as Vulnerable in most of Africa and Critically Endangered in north-west Africa and Iran (Durant et al, )
The release of cheetahs and other large carnivores for conservation purposes is not a new practice and numerous releases have occurred across Africa (Hayward et al, ; Marnewick et al, ; Houser et al, ; Weise et al, ; Boast et al, )
The selection of cheetahs to be released was based on the following parameters: Age at orphaning We considered individuals orphaned at an age of months or older as release candidates
Summary
The global decline in cheetah Acinonyx jubatus populations has led to their current IUCN Red List categorization as Vulnerable in most of Africa and Critically Endangered in north-west Africa and Iran (Durant et al, ). Namibia is a stronghold for the cheetah and possibly holds . % of the estimated global cheetah population (Marker et al, a,b) of , adult and adolescent individuals (Durant et al, ). In Namibia, % of the cheetah population lives outside protected areas and occupies livestock and game farmlands, resulting in a high risk of loss as a result of human–wildlife conflict (Morsbach, ; Marker-Kraus et al, ; Marker et al, , a,b). The Cheetah Conservation Fund rescues cheetahs throughout Namibia orphaned as a result of human–wildlife conflict and, where possible, helps rescued cheetahs transition back into the wild. Improved knowledge and expertise garnered from continual effort and improved pre- and post-release management has led to high levels of success (Marnewick et al, ; Buk et al, ; Vebber et al, )
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
