The cheetah is nominally protected by CITES and the African Convention. Almost all African countries outlaw the killing of cheetah and trade in its skins. The cheetah is represented in many very scattered national parks. In spite of improved legal protection its overall range has shrunk and continues to shrink as livestock replaces wildlife. In spite of legistlation outlawing trade in cheetah skins, which is thought to have slowed direct destruction of the cheetah, a single furrier in New York was found with nearly 2,000 skins in 1972.

Apart from direct persecution of cheetahs by people, which includes shooting and trapping despite their protected status in many areas, there are at least two more factors that threaten their survival: genetic homogeneity and interspecific competition with other predators, particularly in conservation areas. Loss of habitat also poses a serous problem.

Cheetahs show a very high level of genetic homogeneity, which means that there is great similarity and very little diversity in the genetic makeup of different populations. There is considerable discussion on the reasons for this, but no clarity. The consequences of genetic homogeneity might be highly detrimental, but no one is sure exactly what these consequences really are. Some authorities hold that this lack of genetic diversity could make cheetahs increasingly vulnerable to disease and pandemics and could lower breeding success. However, research to date has not pinpointed any particular problems resulting from genetic homogeneity.

Cheetahs are highly vulnerable to interspecific competition with other large predators, including lion, spotted hyeana, leopard and jackal. This takes the form of direct predation on cheetah cubs, the occasional killing of adult cheetahs, and cheetahs being chased off their kills by other carnivores. This competition is a particular problem in conservation areas where other large carnivores are abundant, whereas where there are few competing carnivores the cheetah reaches comparatively high densities. It seems certain that if we rely on existing conservation areas to preserve the cheetah we will lose the battle for its continued survival in the wild.