Somewhere to hide: Home range and habitat selection of cheetahs in an arid, enclosed system

The decline in cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) numbers during the last century has been severe, and fenced reserves may pose as a conservation option for the continued survival of this species. Understanding the use of space within these systems, however, is imperative for their management. Home range (95% Kernel Utilization Distributions) and use of space (Resource selection function models) for cheetahs reintroduced into a small (284 km2), arid, fenced national park was analysed. On average male home range size (139.94 km2) was smaller than female home range size (170.29 km2). Cheetahs did not use the space randomly and variables which aid hunting strategies appear to be important. Despite the chemical contraception of females and absence of competitively superior predators, differences in space use between male and female cheetahs were still observed. The factors that have been used to previously describe these differences were not present in this system, and this could therefore indicate the importance of additional factors such as the availability of prey and that perhaps the evolutionary history of the species results in a form of instinctual behaviour. The study demonstrates the adaptability of the species and if managed appropriately enclosed reserves can act as a population source for cheetahs.