This rate of extinction is far greater today that at any other time in the past 65 million years. Introduction of exotic species into new habitats. Overuse of animals and plants through collecting, hunting, or poaching Use of animals and plant products for religious beliefs. The cheetahs survival depends on people and their ability to manage the wild population and protect its habitat. When people destroy habitat by constructing buildings or grazing livestock, for example, they prevent nearly all animal populations from surviving there, both in the present, as well as the future.
Animals compete poorly with humans for space.
Humans change the environment rapidly, and animals cannot always adjust to these changes or adapt as quickly enough in response. Helping predator species survive in spite of competition from people is one aspect of wildlife conservation. Loss of habitat and prey base, competition with large predators and agricultural interests, and poaching are taking a heavy toll on wild cheetah populations throughout Africa. Today, there are less then 12,500 of these endangered cats remaining in Africa and Asia. The vast majority of cheetahs live in small, isolated groups outside protected game reserves where they are often in conflict with humans and livestock, and most populations continue to decline.