 Cheetahs are classified as Vulnerable by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) due to poaching and habitat destruction and population fragmentation. Cheetahs reproduce poorly in captivity due to numerous factors including a naturally occurring low sperm count throughout both wild and captive population. Even with the help of artificial insemination the conception rate is less than desirable to maintain a self-sustaining captive population. The few females that have given birth successfully tend to be younger females, so research is currently being conducted to better understand the importance of age in successful reproduction as well as effective techniques for assisted reproduction.
Researchers from Smithsonian’s National Zoo have been traveling the country collecting data from female cheetahs at other zoos. They have been testing the impact that a particular hormone has on the fertility of females. Denver Zoo’s female cheetah, Kibara, had received this hormone injection, and recently the National Zoo team collected some of her eggs for evaluation and examined her reproductive system.
The knowledge gained from this study will enhance cheetah reproduction success rates to help make the captive population self-sustaining.
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