Cheetahs face welfare challenges from inbreeding stress, cub theft for the pet trade, and conflict with livestock producers across their African range.
Cub theft involves killing the mother and stealing cubs, causing infant trauma and orphaning. Cubs in the illegal pet trade suffer extreme stress, inappropriate diet, and poor survival rates. Conflict-related killing involves snares and shooting. Cheetahs' low genetic diversity makes them vulnerable to disease outbreaks that can cause widespread suffering. Captive cheetahs denied appropriate space show pacing behaviors.