Photo by beverlyjoubert / Moms really are paragons of patience—no matter the species. At just two months, this pawing little prankster is still sporting the downy coat characteristic of young cheetahs—which means mom has a good many months of boisterous antics left to contend with before this cub is ready to face the savannah without her. Spending time in the presence of young cheetahs is always a delight … but it also comes with a heightened awareness of just how tenuous their survival really is. Today’s wild cheetah population is estimated at just 7,100 adults and adolescents—a 90 percent decline from a century ago. Every cub born represents a little ray of hope, but if we are to have any chance of safeguarding a future for the species in the wild, we need to urgently address the many human-caused threats to the cheetah’s long-term survival. #cheetahs #littlebigcats #bigcatconservation #wildlife