How do we improve cheetah reproduction?
All wild cat species on the planet are classified as vulnerable to extinction and many are classified as in imminent danger of extinction. In the wild they face a variety of threats that reflect the challenges of predators and humans sharing space. Some are also being slaughtered for the imaginary magical properties of their bones and other parts while others, like cheetah, are being taken from their homes as cubs to serve as status symbol pets by people without any knowledge of the specialized care these animals require. There are ongoing efforts to protect wild cats throughout the world but we must never assume that these efforts will always be successful. So while we can hope that we won’t need to use captive born animals to re-establish wild populations, that contingency must be planned for. And captive breeding populations of threatened wildlife species are like blood banks – you want them up and running successfully BEFORE the emergency happens. Captive facilities like accredited zoos and aquariums are, and will continue to be, an important source of animals for reintroduction when wild populations crash as was the case for Amur leopards and Iberian lynx.
Cheetahs in the wild are under the same threats as other cats and they tend to be a challenge to breed in captivity because of the choosiness of females when presented with a male for breeding. While the male chosen may be the best match to maintain the genetic diversity of the captive population, he may not be the female’s preference. Assisted reproduction techniques like artificial insemination and sperm cryopreservation can help get around these behavioural incompatibilities in breeding pairs. In addition, the genetic material (sperm and eggs) can be preserved, reducing the number of animals needed in captivity to maintain genetic diversity. Our research is focusing on developing artificial insemination and sperm cryopreservation protocols for cheetah. We are also looking at how olfactory stimulation can improve cheetah breeding success. With the successful development of these tools we can ensure that we have an emergency back-up plan should the unthinkable happen and wild populations crash past the point of recovering on their own.