Cheetah Conservation Fund

 BIG NEWS!  Conservationist Hazen Audel has teamed up with JETOUR to launch a very special wildlife conservation campaign supporting CCF. The campaign will feature a documentary, "Return of the Cheetah", airing on Discovery Channel on Dec 4th, plus a very special silent auction kicking off tomorrow. Do your part for cheetah conservation! More details to follow  ——  Stay tuned and don't miss your chance to contribute! #ReturnoftheCheetah #DriveYourFuture #JETOUR #HazenAudel #SaveTheCheetah

It’s International Bat Week – and Halloween! So, what do you know about these amazing mammals? Found on six different continents, bats are among the most populous mammals on the planet – second only to rodents! Africa is home to more than 200 different bat species - and the continent harbors about one-fifth of the planet’s bats. The only mammals able to fly, bats provide a variety of critical ecosystem services, including plant pollination, seed dispersal, and of course, eating insects pests, like mosquitos. However, despite their vital ecological role, bats worldwide face complex and compounding threats to their survival, including habitat loss and persecution, sometimes driven by the proliferation of myths and superstitions. Climate change also threatens these nocturnal mammals, particularly droughts and other extreme weather events. Worldwide, there are currently 23 bat species listed as critically endangered, and a further 85 that are endangered. Happy Halloween!

Dr. Marker was recently interviewed on Great Day Washington on WUSA9 in Washington, DC. During the interview, Dr. Marker discussed solutions for saving the cheetah in the wild, like Livestock Guarding Dogs, along with importance of education and awareness. https://lnkd.in/ebv5BXdH

Want to catch Dr. Marker's cheetah talk at the University of Wyoming this afternoon? The program will be broadcast live! Tune in from 4:30 to 6 PM (MDT) to catch the lecture. Ready to watch?  https://lnkd.in/eiiTqeWe

For staff at the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre (CRCC) in Somaliland, wildlife sightings are a common occurrence – and there have been some very interesting observations! Located in Geed-Deeble, about an hour from Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, the CRCC is situated in the midst of an 1,800 acre forest reserve - and the landscape supports a variety of wildlife. Since moving into the CRCC in July of 2023, staff have observed predators like spotted hyenas, African wildcats, and recently, a pair of African golden wolves. Herbivores have been spotted around the CRCC too, including gerenuks, long-necked antelopes adapted for arid regions, and dorcas gazelles, a species classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. There have also been plenty of reptiles among the wildlife sightings. The Horn of Africa has more endemic reptiles than any other region on the entire continent, and staff in Somaliland have cataloged a variety of species, including massive African spur tortoises, the largest mainland tortoise on the planet, and a handful of venomous snakes, like puff adders and red spitting cobras. Bird sightings at the CRCC have been frequent too! More than 700 types of birds have been recorded in the Horn of Africa region – and there have been a number of engaging encounters. Staff have spied bee eaters, flycatchers, pied crows, Northern yellow-billed hornbills, along with birds of prey, including a northern white-faced owl. Somaliland is situated within the Horn of Africa Biodiversity Hotspot – one of 36 biodiversity hotspots found worldwide. However, over the last century, wildlife populations in the region have declined steadily – and the status of many species remains unknown. By cataloging both the flora and fauna around the CRCC, staff are documenting the region’s biodiversity - and gathering data that can potentially help guide future conservation and education efforts.    Want to learn more? Visit cheetah.org

It’s World Animal Day! Today – and everyday – we celebrate the diversity of life on earth! Home to nearly one-quarter of all mammal species found on earth, and nearly one-fifth of the world’s birds, Africa holds some of the planet’s most biodiverse regions. In fact, the continent harbors nine of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. However, factors like habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with humans, and the illegal wildlife trade threaten biodiversity- and climate change is exacerbating many of these risks. Today, there are more than 163,000 species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species - including 45,300 threatened with extinction. Cheetahs are currently classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the list - but two subspecies, the Asiatic cheetah and the Northwest African cheetah, are classified as ‘Critically Endangered.’ Just last year, the subspecies found in the Horn of Africa, the Northeast African cheetah, was up-listed to ‘Endangered’. Protecting apex predators, like cheetahs, provides a multitude of ecological benefits. In the wild, these top predators play a vital ecological role, providing ecological balance by regulating prey populations, and helping to boost overall biodiversity. Cheetahs are also known for roaming, and these wide-ranging cats are found in more than half of Africa’s ecoregions – and their presence often overlaps with areas rich in biodiversity. However, most of the continent’s remaining cheetahs are found outside protected areas, increasing their chances of encountering humans - or domestic animals. . Halting biodiversity loss and protecting natural habitats are both vital to our efforts to keep cheetahs in the wild, including advocating for wildlife-friendly land use practices outside protected areas to prevent conflicts between people and predators. This land-sharing approach to coexistence benefits cheetahs – along with a myriad of other species, and the human communities that share the landscape. Want to learn more?  Visit cheetah.org. 

Earlier this month, there was an exciting wildlife sighting at the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre (CRCC) in Somaliland – a pair of African golden wolves! Found in northern and northeastern Africa, these omnivorous canids are able to tolerate dry and semi-desert landscapes, but are also found in grassland and savanna habitats. However, research suggests African golden wolf populations are likely declining across their range, due primarily to habitat loss and encounters with humans - and domestic animals.  Until just a few years ago, African golden wolves were believed to be an African-based variant of the golden jackal, a canid found in Asia and the Middle East. However, scientific studies published nearly a decade ago in 2015 demonstrated the genetic distinction. Genetically, African golden wolves are actually more closely related to coyotes, gray wolves, and endangered Ethiopian wolves. The Cheetah Rescue Conservation Centre is located in Geed-Deeble, situated in the midst of an 800 acre forest reserve about an hour outside Hargeisa. In addition to being a sanctuary and rehabilitation center for cheetahs rescued from the illegal pet trade, the CRCC is also in the process of becoming an educational hub – a place for both local and international visitors to learn about the region’s biodiversity. At the moment, construction is already underway on the CRCC’s new Education Centre - a facility that will be a critical part of efforts to protect the endangered Northeast African cheetah, a subspecies found in the Horn of Africa. Want to learn more?  Visit cheetah.org

Earlier this month, Tigerlily appeared to have lost her appetite – so she had a full medical work-up at our Centre in Namibia. During the exam, veterinary staff discovered a broken canine  that appeared to be causing her some pain. So, last week, Tigerlily went to the dentist in Otjiwarongo! Tigerlily went happily into her box for travel, and was lightly sedated for the journey into town. For the trip, CCF staff were accompanied by two visiting veterinarians from the non-profit Reclaimed Earth. The veterinary clinic in Otjiwarongo has an enclosed yard, so CCF staff parked there to fully sedate Tigerlily in preparation for her visit with the dentist. Once she was comfortable, the crew proceeded to the dentist office! The dentist in Otjiwarongo - Dr. J.H. de Haast - has previously worked with CCF, so he has some experience with cheetahs. Some modifications had to be made to the dental chair for Tigerlily, but staff were very excited to have her there! During the visit, her broken tooth was checked for infection, cleaned out, and filled. Everything went well during the visit - and Tigerlily slept all the way home! Tigerlily, is one of CCF’s cheetah ambassadors in Namibia – and for more than a decade, she has played a key role in our education programs, helping to showcase the vital ecological role cheetahs play in the wild (and she’s even appeared in documentaries and new programs). Last month, Tigerlily also turned 14 years old!

The 2025 Indianapolis Prize nominees were announced yesterday – and Dr. Marker is one of the innovative conservationists being considered for the award! As the founder and Executive Director of Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), for more than three decades Dr. Marker has been dedicated to keeping cheetahs in the wild with a holistic and collaborative approach to conservation, developing programs designed to benefit wildlife populations - and the human communities that share the landscape.. Awarded every two years, the Indianapolis Prize is administered by the Indianapolis Zoological Society – and Dr. Marker is one of 44 leaders in the field of wildlife conservation being considered for the award in 2025. Next, the Nominating Committee will select six DeHaan Finalists, and then will determine a winner for 2025. Dr. Marker was also a DeHaan Finalist in 2008 and 2010. Want to learn more about the nominees for 2025? https://lnkd.in/g78xWkn8

Last week at our Centre in Namibia, a medical work-up was done on Tigerlily. She hadn’t been eating well for a few days and didn’t show any interest in coming up to the feeding pens. So, the veterinary team put her under to conduct a thorough check-up, including an ultrasound and an X-ray to see if there were any issues that could be identified. She will continue to be closely monitored, to see if she improves - and hopefully, there will be another update soon!. Tigerlily, is one of CCF’s cheetah ambassadors in Namibia – and for more than a decade, she has played a key role in our education programs, helping to showcase the vital ecological role cheetahs play in the wild (and she’s even appeared in documentaries and new programs). Last month, Tigerlily also turned 14 years old!