Factors Influencing the Spatial Ecology of Cheetahs in Fenced Protected Areas

Abstract

In southern Africa, the conservation of large carnivores such as cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) is challenging because of their extensive home range requirements and competition for space with human activities. Here, we focus on the influence of intrinsic individual traits and reserve characteristics on the home range sizes of cheetahs. We investigated the determinants of the home range and core area sizes of cheetahs in fenced protected areas, focusing on the effects of sex, social grouping, reserve size, and habitat openness, as well as prey, cheetah, and other large predator densities. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking data from 21 cheetahs across eight fenced reserves in South Africa, we employed the local convex hull (k-LoCoH) method to calculate 95% home range and 50% core area sizes. Moreover, linear mixed-effects models determined the influence of various ecological and demographic variables on these sizes. The top model explaining the cheetahs' home range size included prey density and the percentage of open habitat available as fixed effects. We found that home range sizes were significantly influenced by the percentage of open habitat and prey density, with smaller ranges associated with higher prey densities and more open habitats. The top model explaining the cheetahs' core area size included sex as the only fixed effect and indicated that males had significantly smaller core areas than females. Therefore, the habitat type, prey density, and sex of the individual are crucial factors influencing the spatial ecology of reintroduced cheetahs. The findings underscore the importance of considering these factors in cheetah conservation planning. Strategies such as enhancing habitat openness and prey availability within protected areas could optimize conditions for cheetah conservation.