Can Cheetahs Survive in New Environments Without Causing Ecological Imbalance?

[sci-kick]

Could Cheetahs be introduced somewhere in the US (a reserve) where they could be in an environment that would allow them to act as they would in Africa? Specifically someplace with game they could hunt, like Pronghorn antelope? Even if it requires a little help from people, like in winter.

Any thoughts on the feasibility of this would be appreciated. I believe the species days are numbered in Africa and if there is anyone cat species that should not be allowed to go extinct it is the Cheetah.

For anyone that questions why that species it's because they are unique, they purr and they aren't maneaters like all other big cats.

 

[caters]

And they are a keystone species. If african or asiatic cheetahs are introduced to new environments it could result in a major increase in the number of gazelles and other cheetah prey even if it is just a few cheetahs that are introduced. This would cause a subsequent rise in the number of cheetahs and cheetah predators and even more inbreeding amongst cheetahs. If cheetah predator numbers rise more than the number of cheetahs the cheetah as we know it could become extinct. This would cause the whole african savannah to be nothing but grass and trees and go from grassland to complete desert. I mean yes it does that already to a certain extent but it would be even more extreme without elephants, gazelles, cheetahs, lions, leopards etc.

So no it would not be good to introduce cheetahs to new environments even if they adapt to it.