Assessing the success of the first cheetah reintroduction in Malawi

Abstract

In an effort to restore parts of their historical geographical range, and in recognition of their ability to restore ecosystem functioning and of the financial benefits they can provide through ecotourism, large carnivores have been reintroduced in many protected areas from which they were previously extirpated. Similar to dispersing animals, translocated individuals often undertake long-distance exploratory movements before establishing home ranges. Post-release monitoring of reintroduced carnivores is common, but the mechanisms of population establishment are rarely examined, limiting our understanding of reintroduction success. We monitored survival and post-release movements of seven cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus reintroduced to Liwonde National Park, Malawi, to evaluate early population establishment. Exploratory phases post-release lasted 29–174 days. Duration of pre-release holding periods in the boma had no significant effect on daily distance moved. Males travelled significantly farther and established home ranges later than females. All cheetahs showed release site fidelity and all females birthed their first litter within 4 months of release. Within 2 years of reintroduction, the newly established population consisted of 14 cheetahs, with demographic attributes similar to those recorded in the source populations. Based on individual settlement, survival and reproduction rates, we deemed this reintroduction successful in re-establishing a breeding population of cheetahs in Liwonde. Our findings suggest the drivers of settlement and population establishment for reintroduced cheetahs are complex, highlighting the importance of assessing and reporting post-release monitoring data.

Rewilding landscapes with apex predators: cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) movements reveal the importance of environmental and individual contexts

“…High movement rates in males suggest that it would be beneficial to rewild female cheetahs initially as they have shorter movements, and those females may encourage residency in future releases of males. Less expansive movements can be beneficial for cheetah survival in unprotected areas (Sievert et al, 2022;Cristescu et al, submitted). For example, roads pose a dynamic threat to individuals that cover extensive distances, and road density and type become paramount during the selection of individuals for release.…”

The Ethiopian wolf can act as a flagship and umbrella species to protect the Afroalpine ecosystem and foster sustainable development

“…Several successful carnivore reintroductions have been carried out in Africa, including lions (Panthera leo) to Rwanda, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to Malawi and wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) to Zambia (Bodasing 2022). To be successful, Ethiopian wolf reintroductions at Choke and Guna mountains will require a combination of effective protected area management, strong community engagement, disease monitoring and control, significant financial support, post-release monitoring and assessment of prey species (Randall et al 2006, Armstrong & Seddon 2008, Bouley et al 2021, Sievert et al 2022.…”

Are we sinking African cheetahs in India?

“…19 There have been several successful reintroductions into such areas, where cheetahs sourced from South Africa were reintroduced into well-protected parks. 1,20 Restoration projects in these countries directly benefit cheetah conservation and local ecosystems in the African subspecies' historical range. They indicate a growing need for African cheetahs within Africa, rather than an excess.…”