29 orphaned, smuggled cheetahs in distress in Somaliland

Hamburg / Somaliland, July 18, 2019 – supports the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in caring for 29 orphaned cheetahs in Somaliland. The self-declared autonomous region is the main transit route for cheetahs, most of which are smuggled out of East Africa. The orphaned animals in the care of CCF have been confiscated by the authorities and are currently living in a secure sanctuary. supports the urgently needed care of the cheetahs with financial means for food and medicine.

The cheetah trade is thriving due to the high demand for wild animals as pets and status symbols, particularly in the Gulf States. The cheetahs are believed to have originated in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland and are commonly trafficked from the Somaliland coast. Due to the illegal nature of the trade, it is difficult to track the number of animals sold.