Introduction

Cheetah Outreach is primarily an education and conservation awareness programme.  Therefore its principal aims are not research-orientated.  However, Cheetah Outreach recognises the value in scientific research and is involved in a number of collaborations aimed at improving the understanding of cheetah biology and conservation.

Projects

Gastritis project

The captive cheetah population suffers from an unusually high incidence of the debilitating disease, gastritis.  Since dietary factors are known to influence the onset and progression of gastrointestinal disease in other species, it is hypothesised that certain dietary components may play an aetiological role in gastritis in cheetahs.  This study aims to survey a representative proportion of the international cheetah population in order to determine the existence of any dietary risk factors for gastritis and other gastrointestinal disease.  The results of this study will be used to generate critical dietary recommendations for the nutritional management of gastrointestinal health in captive cheetahs, and is likely to generate further research priorities regarding the mechanism of action of identified dietary risk factors.

Livestock Guarding Dog project

The use of Anatolian Shepherd dogs as a non-lethal method of predator control for farmers is proving to be a valuable conservation tool.  Cheetah Outreach is involved in the collection of livestock loss data before, during and after the placement of livestock guarding dogs in order to quantify the success of this programme, as well as to identify where the programme may be improved.

Cheetah Cub Growth and Development

In collaboration with Massey University (New Zealand) Cheetah Outreach has participated in a number of research studies investigating the growth and development of hand-reared cheetah cubs.  Comparisons have been made between different milk formulas, as well as the treatment and prevention of carpal valgus syndrome, and growth rates associated with energy intake.

Cheetah Metabolism and Physiology

Cheetah Outreach has collected biological samples (urine and faeces) using non-invasive methods from their animals for researchers investigating various metabolic and physiological processes in the cheetah.

Establishing baseline metabolic profiles for captive and free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Dr. Adrian S.W. Tordiffe (National Zoological Gardens of South Africa; NZG)

Cheetah Outreach is collaborating with Dr. Tordiffe of the NZG to assist in his PhD research.  The project aims to establish comparative baseline metabolic profiles for both wild and captive cheetahs from several areas and institutions across southern Africa. Biological samples will be humanely collected from sedated animals on an opportunistic basis and analysed for metabolites.  The establishment of a baseline metabolic profile for cheetahs is expected to provide a platform against which clinical or sub-clinical cases can be tested. Furthermore, this research may reveal metabolic abnormalities specific to cheetahs, the detection of which is expected to assist greatly in the management of captive cheetah health.