Cheetahs are famous for their speed and agility but are also one of Africa’s most endangered big cats. Their numbers have declined by 90% over the past 100 years, dropping from 100,000 to less than 10,000 today. The main reasons for the decline are human-wildlife conflict, disappearing habitat, and loss of prey.
Founded in 1990, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is dedicated to saving the cheetah. CCF works internationally and maintains a field base in Namibia, the country with the largest population of wild cheetah. Employing a holistic approach that balances the needs of people, wildlife, and land, CCF’s success has inspired a nation that once viewed this species as vermin to proudly claim the title, “Cheetah Capital of the World.”
CCF’s work with conflict mitigation, and their education and outreach programs are being replicated in other cheetah-range nations and serve as a model for carnivore conservation programs around the world. CCF’s Field Research and Education Centre in Otjiwarongo is open to the public 364 days a year. Visitors can interact with CCF scientists and learn about CCF’s livestock guarding dogs, model farm, and wildlife conservancy. Overnight guests may opt to spend a few days at CCF’s Cheetah View Lodge for an immersive cheetah experience.
CCF operates under the principle that the key to sustainable conservation lies in improving the livelihoods of people. When human beings’ needs are met, they are more likely to care about biodiversity and become stewards of the planet.Dr. Laurie Marker
Recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on cheetahs, Dr. Laurie Marker is a pioneer in cheetah research, conservation, and farmer-carnivore conflict mitigation. As the cheetah curator at Oregon’s Wildlife Safari, she first traveled to Namibia in 1977 to conduct pioneering research with a cheetah she raised to study the potential for reintroducing captive-born cheetahs into the wild. During this trip, Laurie was shocked to learn of the violent conflict between livestock farmers and cheetahs that was driving the species toward extinction. In the early 1980’s her collaborative research with the Smithsonian and the National Cancer Institute helped discover the cheetahs lack of genetic diversity, and she joined the Smithsonian in 1988 to continue research and find a way to help the cheetah survive in the wild.
In 1990, Dr. Marker established CCF and relocated to Namibia. Her early studies took her farm-to-farm to find out why farmers were shooting cheetahs. By understanding the farmers’ problems, she developed solutions that not only stopped the senseless killing, but also began changing the way people viewed predators in Africa. Over the years she has developed a large biological and ecological database on wild cheetahs, working on nearly 900 wild cheetahs and releasing over 600 back into the wild by working closely with the livestock farming community.
Dr. Marker has received many international awards for her work, including the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, the premier award for environmental science, environmental health and energy. She was also named a “Hero for the Planet” by TIME Magazine and is an A.D. White Professor at Large with Cornell University.
Tackling Wildlife Crime
Restoring Habitat
Reducing Conflict
Scientific Research
Expanding Education
Boosting Local Economies
Guiding Policy
Promoting Health
In Somaliland, CCF supports the seizure of cheetahs destined for the illegal pet market. CCF’s veterinary team oversees the care for confiscated cheetahs at our Cheetah Safe House, built specifically for cheetah cubs recovered from the pet trade. To date, 97 samples have been extracted and genotyped to detect the animals’ origins and reduce trade in key areas.
CCF is working on a long-term research and development project, called “Bushblok,” to restore habitat while developing a renewable fuel source. Overgrown thorn bush is harvested and made into high-heat, low-emission fuel logs for consumer use. As the Bushblok program grows, CCF creates new biomass energy potential.
CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog (LGD) program is proven to reduce livestock losses to predators. A breed of Anatolian shepherd and Kangal dogs are placed with Namibian farmers as puppies. The puppies bond with the herd or flock. As they grow up, their size and loud bark help to deter predators. Farmers with a LGD are less likely to lose livestock, and thus less likely to trap or shoot cheetahs in retaliation.
Cheetah Conservation Fund’s “Life Technologies Conservation Genetics Laboratory” is the only fully-equipped genetics lab located directly on-site at a conservation facility in Africa. From this facility, CCF collaborates with scientists around the globe. Research not only benefits the cheetah and its ecosystem, but other big cats and predators as well.
CCF’s Education Center and Cheetah Museum provides detailed information about the cheetah: its history, physiology, importance within the ecosystem, conflict with humans, and what CCF is doing to ensure the species’ survival for future generations. At Camp Lightfoot, tens of thousands of students have participated in CCF’s overnight environmental courses.
The key to securing a future for the cheetah is to secure the livelihoods of the people who share its habitat. To help Namibians expand their income, CCF’s Model Farm program inspires Namibian farmers to engage in wildlife-friendly agricultural ventures. CCF also breeds and trains livestock guarding dogs on the farm and produces cheetah-friendly products like goat cheese, fudge, and honey.
CCF is a founding member of the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), a public-private coalition started by the US Department of State. CCF also works with the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) to address issues such as law enforcement, demand reduction, procedures for the placement of confiscated cheetahs, and cybercrime.
CCF uses best-practice techniques for storing cheetah sperm, tissues, and blood samples in its Genome Resource Bank (GRB). These materials provide insurance for the cheetah’s survival. Cryopreservation methods continue to be studied and refined in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution in the US. As a result, CCF maintains one of the largest GRB’s for an endangered species.
Tackling Wildlife Crime
In Somaliland, CCF supports the seizure of cheetahs destined for the illegal pet market. CCF’s veterinary team oversees the care for confiscated cheetahs at our Cheetah Safe House, built specifically for cheetah cubs recovered from the pet trade. To date, 97 samples have been extracted and genotyped to detect the animals’ origins and reduce trade in key areas.
Restoring Habitat
CCF is working on a long-term research and development project, called “Bushblok,” to restore habitat while developing a renewable fuel source. Overgrown thorn bush is harvested and made into high-heat, low-emission fuel logs for consumer use. As the Bushblok program grows, CCF creates new biomass energy potential.
Reducing Conflict
CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog (LGD) program is proven to reduce livestock losses to predators. A breed of Anatolian shepherd and Kangal dogs are placed with Namibian farmers as puppies. The puppies bond with the herd or flock. As they grow up, their size and loud bark help to deter predators. Farmers with a LGD are less likely to lose livestock, and thus less likely to trap or shoot cheetahs in retaliation.
Scientific Research
Cheetah Conservation Fund’s “Life Technologies Conservation Genetics Laboratory” is the only fully-equipped genetics lab located directly on-site at a conservation facility in Africa. From this facility, CCF collaborates with scientists around the globe. Research not only benefits the cheetah and its ecosystem, but other big cats and predators as well.
Expanding Education
CCF’s Education Center and Cheetah Museum provides detailed information about the cheetah: its history, physiology, importance within the ecosystem, conflict with humans, and what CCF is doing to ensure the species’ survival for future generations. At Camp Lightfoot, tens of thousands of students have participated in CCF’s overnight environmental courses.
Boosting Local Economies
The key to securing a future for the cheetah is to secure the livelihoods of the people who share its habitat. To help Namibians expand their income, CCF’s Model Farm program inspires Namibian farmers to engage in wildlife-friendly agricultural ventures. CCF also breeds and trains livestock guarding dogs on the farm and produces cheetah-friendly products like goat cheese, fudge, and honey.
Guiding Policy
CCF is a founding member of the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), a public-private coalition started by the US Department of State. CCF also works with the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) to address issues such as law enforcement, demand reduction, procedures for the placement of confiscated cheetahs, and cybercrime.
Promoting Health
CCF uses best-practice techniques for storing cheetah sperm, tissues, and blood samples in its Genome Resource Bank (GRB). These materials provide insurance for the cheetah’s survival. Cryopreservation methods continue to be studied and refined in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution in the US. As a result, CCF maintains one of the largest GRB’s for an endangered species.
$500 will sponsor a Livestock Guarding Dog for a year providing food, veterinary care, and support to a local farmer.
$1,000 will sponsor the costs of a week’s training for 10 farmers, helping improve their livelihoods for a lifetime to come.
$5,000 will sponsor an orphaned or injured cheetah living in CCF’s Cheetah Sanctuary for one year. Some cats will be rehabilitated and reintroduced to the wild, while others depend on CCF’s care for life.
