The secrets of cheetah reproductive cycle revealed
A new research has found the reasons of irregular reproductive cycle of female cheetahs. The researchers have found that a specific male bark triggers the female reproductive system to release eggs, reports National Geographic News
ONE OF the most amazing animals in the cat-family, the cheetah, has remained a mystery to scientists for several reasons, one of those being their irregular reproductive cycle. Until recently, scientists could not find the reason as to why female cheetah ovulates rarely and at unusual times.
However, now the mystery has been solved. A recent research has found that a specific bark of a male cheetah triggers the female reproductive system to release eggs. According to a report published in National Geographic News, male cheetahs turn females on, literally.
This is being seen as a primary reason, why the cat finds it difficult to breed in captivity. However, the researchers say that the new study may boost efforts to breed the rare cats.
Matt Anderson, who is the research leader of a team of bioacoustics experts at the San Diego Wild Animal Park said that they stumbled onto the discovery while studying cheetah vocalisations. He said that they noticed that the male’s ’stutter bark’ was made days before breeding took place.
They discovered that male stutter-bark calls triggered increase in the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone in the females’ feces. “We never expected to see such a tight link between the vocalisation and the hormone levels,” Anderson said.
The cheetah has an estimated adult population of only 7,500, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The only known wild cheetah population outside of Africa today, is a critically endangered group of fewer than a hundred in Iran.
The new research will help in increasing the population of the rare animal.
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V P Singh
Good find. We are ourselves also trying to bring one such program of re-introducing cheetahs in the wild here in Central Forests Regions of India.
There were Cheetahs till the tune of the century, BUT, subsequently vanished mainly due poaching & also due to loss of habitat. We have identified the areas in which re-introduction can be taken place.
WTI's Dr M. K. Ranjitsing is also trying to work upon a similar re-introduction model at Rajasthan. We are also in touch with Dr Laurie Marker of CCF, Namibia, for her guidance. Let's see how things take shape. We are going slowing & steadily with the right kind os associates.
V P Singh
Cheetah Conservation Society, Nagpur, India.
V P Singh
Great observation ....look forwaard to cloning / reproduction programm what so ever to support 'Cheetah re intro programs' where ever they existed & also here at Pench Tiger reserve, Central India, where Cheetahs existed few decads back.
jkd
go thru the entire article once more.. it contains lots of grammatical mistakes, pls be sure before writing. check d second line of the first para.."until recently scientists could...." does not make any sense at all.
fourth para-- ".....who is the research... said..."-- no need to put so many clauses in a single sentence!! writer as well her editor must go thru wren & martin for ten times.
1 more thing, instead of using the word cheetah, leopard wud b better, the site is not for the indians.
"They discovered that male stutter-bark calls triggered increase in the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone in the females? feces."---- 5th para, 1st line - needs to be edited carefully
sandeep
The article is quite informative as earlier there was very less information regarding Cheetah reproductive cycle. The article is an outcome of a good research.
A sound of advice for Mr. Jkd, please check the number of grammatical errors in your comment before suggesting Wren and martin to others.
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