Debated Taxonomy

• Acinonyx jubatus megabalica, suggested as a subspecies in 1863 from cheetahs living on the western banks of the White Nile River in Sudan, currently not considered a separate subspecies.

• Acinonyx jubatus wagneri, another cheetah from southern Sudan nominated as a subspecies in 1913, currently not considered a separate subspecies.

Location

The Central African cheetah is among the smallest populations of cheetahs remaining, and the second-smallest population of the African subspecies.  It has been found in the following countries:

Cameroon
Chad
Central African Republic
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Niger
Somalia
Sudan

This subspecies is shrinking rapidly due to the illegal pet trade, big game hunting, and cross-breeding with the Eastern African Cheetah and the Northern African Cheetah as the three ranges overlap in select areas.  This subspecies is regularly trafficked out of Ethiopia which is the primary reason for decline there and in Sudan, as it is the cubs which are captured and sold.  Habitat decline and human encroachment are contributors to their decline just as with other subspecies.  Sadly, this subspecies has been completely extirpated from Cameroon and is no longer found in that country.

Visual Identification*

Central African cheetahs have a tawny, more densely spotted coat with relatively thick and coarse fur in comparison to its close neighbors, the Eastern and Northern African cheetahs.

The tear marks of the Central African cheetah are highly inconsistent, but they are frequently thickest at the mouth corners than all other subspecies, making them quite unique.  This subspecies tends not to have mustache markings.

The belly of this cheetah is distinctly white while its breast and throat can have some spotting similar to the eastern subspecies.

This cheetah has distinct white patches around its eyes but the facial spotting can vary from very dense to relatively thin.

This subspecies has been seen with both white and black tipped tails.  This subspecies' tail is also notably thick.

*There are fewer deviantART visual references for this cheetah due to its rarity in the wild, sadly making it most commonly seen in zoos or in the illegal wildlife trade.

Conservation

The primary threats to the Central African cheetah are the illegal wildlife trade and hunting.  Cheetah cubs sell on the black market for over $1,000 but rescuing a single cub costs over three times that much, and the majority of cheetah cubs captured die before they ever leave Africa.  Hunting and poaching is also greatly reducing their numbers and it is rare to find them in the wild, but captive breeding projects are slowly increasing their numbers.  Numerous conservation related links can be found on our About Us page.  Visit them to see what you can do to help save the Central African cheetah!

DID YOU KNOW......

.........male cheetah coalitions will travel as far as 50 kilometers from their birthplace to find new territory?

The next subspecies we will discuss is the Northwest African cheetah, the most rarely photographed and the most visually distinct!  Coming in one week!