Historically, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) was widely distributed throughout Africa and Asia. And could be found in past in 38 nations of Africa. A survey found that there were about 7,000 to 23,000 cheetahs living in Africa in the early 1970s. During the last decades, its distribution has shrunk dramatically and is currently confined to only 9% of its previous range, with an estimated 7,100 adult and juvenile individuals.