The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is classified as a Vulnerable Species (VU) on the IUCN Red List. In Benin, the cheetah is believed to belong to the North-West African subspecies, Acinonyx jubatus hecki, which is considered Critically Endangered (CR). The wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is classified as an endangered species (EN). The conservation of cheetah and wild dog presents major challenges for 21st century conservation specialists. All large carnivores need large spaces to survive; cheetahs and wild dogs require even larger spaces. These species are often the first to disappear under the pressure of human activities aggravated by significant population growth. Benin is home to a population of resident cheetahs and probably wild dogs, but the lack of knowledge about their numbers and distribution remains a major constraint to their effective conservation. This National Action Plan for the Conservation of Cheetah and Wild Dog is the first step in a program for the management and conservation of these two species of large carnivores in Benin. The vision of this plan is as follows: “Cheetah and wild dog populations are restored, managed in a sustainable and concerted manner for the well-being of the human population in the Republic of Benin.” The plan aims to make cheetah and wild dog populations better known, viable and valued in western, central and northern Africa. In order to achieve this goal, eight goals and corresponding activities have been defined for the next five years. These goals range from improving the state of knowledge to building capacity to managing settlements and conflicts. The National Center for the Management of Wildlife Reserves (CENAGREF) ensures the supervision of the implementation of this Action Plan in collaboration with all other actors.This document is the report of the NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF CHEETAH AND WILD DOG IN
THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN