In a jaw-dropping incident captured during a live safari stream, a young cheetah fell victim to a cunning crocodile, dragged into the water in an unexpected assault that left viewers in awe.
The dramatic sequence unfolded as the cheetah cub approached a waterhole for a refreshing drink, oblivious to the lurking danger. Little did it know that a patient crocodile lay in wait, poised to strike. With swift precision, the crocodile pounced, leaving the other cheetahs helpless witnesses to the shocking scene.
“This is the very sad, sad part,” lamented Busani Mtshali, a naturalist from Phinda Private Game Reserve, addressing the audience during a broadcast by WildEarth TV.
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While crocodiles pose a clear threat to cheetahs, this magnificent feline species faces even greater, even existential, challenges.
The world’s fastest mammal now teeters on the brink of extinction, primarily due to human conflict and the fact that its range extends far beyond protected areas. The pet trade exacerbates the crisis, fueled by the escalating demand for “luxury” pets in the Middle East. Countless cheetah cubs are cruelly separated from their mothers and transported in large numbers to the Gulf states, with an estimated two-thirds perishing during transit.
Additionally, cheetahs are ruthlessly hunted for their skins and coats, with cheetah skin shoes being a sought-after high-end item in Sudan.
In response to these alarming developments, scientists are urgently advocating for the reclassification of cheetahs from “vulnerable” to “endangered,” affording these irreplaceable creatures greater protection and funding.
“Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked,” emphasized Sarah Durant of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in a press release by Panthera. “Our findings demonstrate that the large spatial requirements of cheetahs, coupled with the complex range of threats they face in the wild, make them far more vulnerable to extinction than previously thought.”
It is crucial that we take immediate action to safeguard these iconic animals, ensuring their survival for future generations to admire their unparalleled grace and unparalleled speed.