Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus hecki ) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin

A critically endangered subspecies of the Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) faces severe population threats within the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, Benin, due to violent extremism and conflict. Using a novel dual-placement camera trap design over three biennial surveys, researchers estimated a density of 0.26 ± 0.10 individuals per 100 km² across the study area, with zero detections in adjacent hunting zones. Pendjari National Park appears to be a core habitat for this subspecies, but its population is alarmingly small, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation intervention. The study highlights the effectiveness of low-risk fieldwork methods in conflict-affected regions and underscores the necessity of targeted protection and financial support to safeguard this iconic species and its prey.

Drouilly, M., Ipavec, A., Grente, O., Horion, R., Ouindeyama, A., Henschel, P., Lapeyre, V., Chabi N’Diaye, Y., Shams, A., Breitenmoser, C., & Durant, S. M. (2025). Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus hecki ) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 6(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70036