Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, discusses the basics of cheetah conservation and her journey into studying and protecting cheetahs. She explains that cheetahs have a short lifespan and low genetic diversity, making them vulnerable to extinction. Dr. Marker also talks about the challenges of conserving cheetahs living outside protected areas and the importance of working with farmers to reduce human-wildlife conflict. She highlights the role of livestock guarding dogs in protecting livestock and preventing cheetah killings. Additionally, Dr. Marker explains the physiological adaptations of cheetahs that enable them to be the fastest land animals and their hunting behavior. She also discusses the cognitive abilities of cheetahs and their large home ranges. Dr. Marker discusses the health challenges faced by cheetahs, including diseases like herpes virus, calicivirus, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). She explains that cheetahs lack genetic diversity due to a historic small population, which has led to a reduced immune system. However, there is now a cure for FIP which has saved seven cheetahs. Dr. Marker also discusses the illegal wildlife pet trade, where cheetah cubs are stolen from the wild and sold as pets in the Middle East. She emphasizes the need to stop the trade and the demand for cheetah cubs. Additionally, Dr. Marker talks about the rehabilitation program at Cheetah Conservation Fund, where cheetahs are raised and rewilded to be released back into the wild. She mentions the success of reintroducing cheetahs in India, where they had gone extinct. Dr. Marker highlights the importance of conservation and the need for funding to save the cheetahs from extinction.
Keywords
cheetah conservation, genetic diversity, human-wildlife conflict, livestock guarding dogs, physiological adaptations, hunting behavior, cognitive abilities, home ranges, cheetahs, health challenges, diseases, genetic diversity, immune system, FIP, illegal wildlife pet trade, rehabilitation program, rewilding, conservation, funding
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