In the past, the cheetah pelt was viewed as a status symbol of wealth, which led to their being hunted. Currently, cheetah are of economic importance for the tourism industries of the areas in which they are still found naturally. Cheetah also are of economic importance for zoos. Another way in which people profit from cheetah is through the pet industry. Hunters kill mothers and then take their offspring to be sold as pets. The infant cheetah are purchased illegally because of laws prohibiting individual ownership of wild and/or endangered animals.

Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material