Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative’s Post

Happy International Cheetah Day! Cheetahs are the fastest animals on the planet, but today, these iconic cats are racing against extinction. On December 4, #InternationalCheetahDay also serves as a reminder that these spotted sprinters are running out of time. Cheetah populations have dropped significantly over the last 50 years. In the early 1900s, there were approximately 100,000 cheetahs in the wild in Africa and Asia. Today, there are less than 7,500 – and these remaining cats face a number of complex and compounding threats, especially habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the illegal wildlife trade. On International Cheetah Day, we celebrate these incredible cats - and also recognize that the plight of cheetahs in the wild is a call to action for all of us! We can all spread the word about cheetah conservation, and support programs helping to keep these incredible cats in the wild, where they belong. And, this International Cheetah Day, don’t forget to check out the new documentary RETURN OF THE CHEETAH, on Discovery. In the documentary, conservationist and host Hazen Audel travels to Namibia – and witnesses firsthand our efforts to save cheetahs from extinction. Want to learn more? Visit cheetah.org