Biologists say that during the last Ice Age, cheetahs went through a long period of inbreeding.
Loss of genetic variation can occur naturally. Cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus) are a threatened species native to Africa and Asia. These big cats have very little genetic variation. Biologists say that during the last Ice Age, cheetahs went through a long period of inbreeding. As a result, there are very few genetic differences between cheetahs. They cannot adapt to changes in the environment as quickly as other animals, and fewer cheetahs survive to maturity. Cheetahs are also much more difficult to breed in captivity than other big cats, such as lions ( Panthera leo).