Details
This page outlines the detailed needs of the program and the sources of that information.
- How many cheetah can the Negev support?
- Males prefer to live in pairs or triplets while females often set off their own territory. There needs to be an average of ?? square kilometers per animal.
- If there are 1000 square kilometeres allotted to the program, then it will be able to support about ?? cheetah.
- How many cheetah can actually be brought to Israel?
- Only a small number of animals that will breed need to immigrate to Israel. Since the population will encounter fewer challenges to survival (hyenas or lions) in the Negev than in Africa, the survival rate of the healthy young is expected to be higher than usual.
- There will likely be the occasional introduction of new males to vary the genetic pool.
- Is the territory prepared for the Cheetah?
- Their needs are basic. On the grassland, they need some water sources, shade trees, hills and rocks, and of course the herds of prey which already live there. The Cheetah will help attract attention to the environmental needs of the Negev and will be a keystone and umbrella species.
- How much food and water will each cheetah need?
- Each adult will hunt and eat approximately 30-40 gazelle, rabbits and wild pigs each year. (??)
- Each animal will drink an average of 150 liters of water per year. (??) The annual rainfall in the Negev is ?? mililiters. There are a few small wells.
- What will be required to transport the animals to Israel's Negev?
- Crates, food, water, tranquilizers or music, accompanying personnel.
- Airline tickets for the animals and the personnel.
- Trucks to transport the animals from the airport to the Negev center, probably in the University of the Negev at Beer Sheva.
- A prepared site at the Univeristy to accept the animals and prepare them for release into the Negev preserve.
- How will the Cheetah in Israel project relate to the local public and schoolchildren?
- Schoolchildren will be invited to see the entire process as the animals arrive and are released into the preserve.
- Local people including farmers will be invited to learn about and work with the animals to plant trees and maintain security barriers.
- The University will have a permanent presentation exhibit to inform the public and visitors.
- The public media will be presented with material explaining the program at several leves, including print articles, video documentaries and corporate endorsements.