Featured in Cheetah Experience’s latest newsletter, the PhD project of MRI student Juanita Wessels is exploring how wild cats communicate through scent. Species such as cheetah, leopards, servals and African wild cats use chemical signals in urine, faeces and gland secretions to convey information about territory, identity and reproduction.

Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Juanita’s study compares volatile organic compound profiles across species to better understand this hidden form of communication. This research also investigates whether human-made pollutants may interfere with these chemical signals, potentially disrupting essential behaviours.

With implications for conservation and wildlife management, this work highlights how human activity may be subtly reshaping animal communication and we cannot wait to see the exciting results coming out of this cutting edge work soon!