Now You See Them, Soon You Won't: Statistical and Mathematical Models for Cheetah Conservation Management

There is an ever increasing and bewildering array of statistical and mathematical modeling techniques in conservation management of terrestrial wildlife. These quantitative techniques have been utilized mostly for wildlife management in North America and Europe, but are increasingly applied to African species including cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Cheetah conservation managers frequently have to make decisions based on sparse information that may be of varying quality. Analyzing data, drawing inferences, and choosing between different management options can be daunting tasks. In this chapter we review some of the more popular and emerging quantitative approaches and discuss how they might be employed to address key cheetah conservation aims.