The Fastest Land Animal Faces Extinction Risk

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world, however they cannot outrun their high risk of extinction due to human activity. Reporters in Eastern Africa have gathered information about the cheetah blackmarket from interviewing people who have allegedly sold them. They say cheetahs are sold as pets, poached for their skin, and illegally traded. Eastern Africa is where most of the illegal trade occurs. Due to this, most of the cheetah population has declined.

There are five subspecies of cheetahs. Their bodies are slim with muscular legs, covered with light yellow fur and black spots. They have deep chests, flexible spines, special pads on their feet, and non retractable claws to tear apart food. Their pads and claws allow them to grip onto surfaces while running. They also have tear tracks, which are a black line under their eyes that give them incredible eyesight that works like binoculars. Male cheetahs live up to ten years, while females live up to 14 years. These creatures live in various places from the Sahara Desert to dry forests and thick scrubs.

Habitat loss is a huge threat to cheetahs. As human populations grow, more trees are cut down, which disrupts cheetah habitats. Human activity also includes the poaching and illegal trading of cheetahs. The population of these creatures has dropped; there is estimated to be less than 6,700 cheetahs left in the world.

To save and stop the depopulation of cheetahs, people need to stop poaching, deforesting, and illegal trading. Protecting these animals is not only crucial for biodiversity but also for maintaining the balance of ecosystems where they serve as top predators. Global cooperation, sustainable land management and continued efforts from conservation organizations need to be performed to ensure that cheetahs survive for generations to come.

[Source: Cheetahs in Africa]