Cheetahs

The cheetah Acinonyx jubatus, the world’s fastest cat, has been included in CITES Appendix I since 1975, where the following annotation applies: “Annual export quotas for live specimens and hunting trophies are granted as follows: Botswana: 5; Namibia: 150; Zimbabwe: 50. The trade in such specimens is subject to the provisions of Article III of the Convention”.  

In 2009, it was listed also in Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), except for its populations in Zimbabwe. Populations of Botswana and Namibia are also not listed as the two counties are not Parties to CMS.

Cheetahs face a variety of pressures to their existence in the wild, including habitat loss, hunting of their prey base for bush-meat, illegal international trade and conflict with livestock owners.

Globally, this species is considered Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM, with a declining extant population of less than 7,000 individuals found primarily in the savannahs of Africa. While southern Africa is the cheetah’s regional stronghold, it is considered Critically Endangered in the North and West Africa. A small and remnant Asiatic population exists also in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where it is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Submit a report

Information submitted using the above link will be, as appropriate, posted under the heading Information on cheetahs on this web page.

Cheetah closed user group: A closed user group on cheetahs is established on the World Customs Organization CENcomm platform, to facilitate the exchange of information on illegal trade in cheetah specimens between relevant national competent authorities, including representatives of customs, police, wildlife law enforcement authorities, and intergovernmental organizations. For more information, see Notification 2018/046.

• National CITES Authorities
• Wildlife forensics
• Annual illegal trade report
• FAQ