Asiatic Cheetah
The Asiatic Cheetah, Acinonyx venaticus, is virtually identical to its African cousin. Once it ranged from Israel eastward to India and southern Turkestan, northward to Syr Darya in Kazakhstan. European and Asian royalty have hunted it to the point of near extinction. Regulations on fur trade were strengthened around 1970 in recognition of the fact that the Asiatic Cheetah might become extinct. Today only about 200 remain, existing as small isolated groups, in eastern Iran.
Cheetah Sounds
Cheetah sounds include a purr, bark, growl, hiss and chirp. They can't roar like some other big cats.
They Are Endangered
Human excess is probably the major factor pushing the cheetah toward extinction. Too many people squeeze out other species, robbing them of living space and limiting their food supply. Also the cheetah and its pelt have been valued as symbols of wealth or power throughout recorded history. In 1900 there were approximately 100,000 cheetah worldwide. Present estimates place their number at 10 - 15 thousand with about 1/10 of those living in captivity. Namibia has the larges population of African cheetah -- about 2500. Smaller populations exist in Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania while 19 other countries have even fewer.