Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) diet in the wild-prey-depleted, but livestock-abundant, Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

Abstract Understanding carnivore resource use, particularly in regions with depleted wild-prey and abundance of livestock that characterise much of their remaining habitat, is crucial to their effective conservation and management. We assessed cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ) diet in the prey-depleted, but livestock-abundant, Limpopo National Park (LNP, Mozambique), using scats genetically confirmed to be from cheetah. Cheetah consumed mainly medium-sized prey, particularly impala ( Aepyceros melampus ), and a high proportion of smaller prey items, particularly leporids and pedetids. Additionally, we recorded giant rat ( cf. Cricetomys sp.), rock hyrax ( Procavia capensis ), and vervet monkey ( Chlorocebus pygerythrus ) in their diet. Our findings highlight the adaptability of cheetah to prey depletion, through expanding their dietary niche to incorporate smaller prey items, usually not considered to be important in their diets. The presence of a single goat record ( Capra hircus ), but no cattle in their diet highlights a strong avoidance for livestock. Although the cheetahs in LNP can persist despite prey depletion through diet flexibility and reduced dominant competitor density, we urge continued monitoring of this cheetah population, and that conservationists recognise the potential for tipping points in prey depletion, where the competitive release benefits of prey depletion are outweighed by the costs.