Beverly Joubert Instagram – #Repost from @natgeo Intensely focused, this cheetah gives a piercing gaze across the plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara. Among Africa’s iconic big cats, cheetahs stand out as perhaps the most stark example of threats converging to imperil a species—from shallow gene pools to habitat loss to the illegal trade. New and emerging issues, including some related to climate change, are adding to the pressure—and often unfolding in unexpected ways. Recent research, for example, shows that rising temperatures are pushing cheetahs to shift their hunting habits to the cooler night hours, a behavior that not only complicates their survival strategies but also intensifies competition with other carnivores. In the face of these complex challenges, it is crucial for us to recognize the urgency of conservation efforts for both cheetahs and precious ecosystems like the Masai Mara.