From popularity to preservation: large carnivore potential for ecosystem conservation

Conservation efforts are challenged by lack of funding and ambiguity in strategic prioritisation. Flagship species generate public attention but may not adequately represent and protect biodiversity. Integrating species-centric approaches with area-based strategies may refine conservation outcomes and could improve achievements towards biodiversity targets. We present this case for a globally appealing flagship species, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). We identified research trends and gaps, and estimated the biodiversity value associated with cheetah occurrence throughout its free-ranging distribution. Although the existing body of literature encompasses insights from diverse interdisciplinary approaches, current knowledge is mostly derived from a limited number of localised study areas, whereas most populations are understudied. Cheetahs inhabit more than half of Africa's ecoregions and their contemporary occurrence coincides with areas valuable for biodiversity conservation, in particular, closer to the equator where ecoregions are poorly protected and human footprint is high. Cheetah conservation efforts could yield substantial biodiversity benefits, particularly outside protected areas, thereby complementing current area protection networks. Growing pressures on remaining habitat will require adaptive conservation strategies; hence, it becomes imperative to embrace a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to the protection of cheetahs, a flagship species for drylands and landscapes shared with humans.