THE world’s fastest land mammal is racing toward extinction. That’s according to scientific studies which suggest the big cats, which are already few in number, may decline by an additional 53 percent over the next 15 years.

Today there are just 7 100 cheetahs left in the wild, according to the new study. That’s down from an estimated 14 000 cheetahs in 1975.

In addition, the cheetah has been driven out of 91 percent of its historic range.

They once roamed nearly all of Africa and much of Asia, now they are confined predominantly to six African countries. The species is already almost extinct in Asia, with an isolated pocket of Cheetahs in Iran.

Currently, the cheetah is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.