Research overview: ovarian inactivity in captive cheetahs

Many captive female cheetahs experience extended periods without ovarian cyclicity, a major obstacle to sustaining captive populations. This overview surveys research characterizing ovarian inactivity in cheetahs through noninvasive hormone monitoring, the proportion of females affected, and proposed causes ranging from social and environmental factors to the absence of natural reproductive cues. It reviews management strategies including changes in housing, social grouping, and the use of exogenous hormones to stimulate cycling. The review connects ovarian inactivity to the broader difficulty of breeding cheetahs despite their high fecundity in the wild. Understanding ovarian inactivity is central to improving cheetah reproduction in captivity and to interpreting why an otherwise prolific species breeds poorly under management.