Cheetah Conservation Fund

The Mission of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF):

To be the internationally recognised centre of excellence in the conservation of cheetahs and their ecosystems. CCF will work with all stakeholders to develop best practices in research, education, and land use to benefit all species, including people.

The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF)was founded in 1990 by Dr. Laurie Marker. As Namibia has the largest and healthiest population of cheetahs left in the world, CCF's International Research and Education Centre is based in Namibia, near Otjiwarongo.

CCF works to:

• create and manage long-term conservation strategies for the cheetah throughout their range
• develop and implement better livestock management practices, eliminating the need for ranchers to kill so many cheetah
• conduct conservation education programs for local villagers, ranchers and school children
• continue intensive scientific research in cheetah genetics, biology and species survival

CCF's stance is that understanding the cheetah's biology and ecology is essential to stabilise the population and manage its sustainability for the future. Its strategy to save the wild cheetah is a three-pronged process of research, conservation and education, beginning with long-term studies to understand and monitor the factors affecting the cheetah's survival. Results of these studies are used to develop conservation policies and programmes to sustain its populations. CCF actively works with local, national and international communities to raise awareness, communicate, educate and train. Some of CCF's approaches include:

• conducting intensive scientific research and publishing papers on research findings—in cheetah genetics, biology, ecology, health and reproduction, human impact, and species survival, including assistance with the management of captive and free-ranging cheetah throughout the world. CCF also develops and implements non-lethal predator control and other better livestock management practices. These include CCF's Livestock Guarding Dog Programme, and the relocation of problem cheetahs, which attempt to eliminate the need for ranchers to kill cheetah.
• creating and managing long-term conservation strategies for the cheetah throughout their range. CCF researchers develop, test, and promote alternative land-management practices such as conservancy development, and eco-tourism.
• carrying out local and international conservation education programmes to illustrate ways in which the species can be protected, by addressing community upliftment and predator-conflict resolution. CCF also creates and disseminates education materials worldwide.
• building capacity in countries that still harbour cheetah populations. The international programme currently includes distributing CCF materials, lending resources and support, and providing training throughout Africa and the rest of the world.

CCF is a proactive organisation that finds practical solutions to help people to help the cheetah and this is reflected in the CCF Vision: "We see a world in which cheetahs live and flourish in co-existence with people and the environment".

CCF's Programmes

CCF's work to save the wild cheetah and its wilderness habitat is successful because it works on all aspects of the cheetah's plight, through education and public outreach, applied conservation biology and management, public policy, and science and research.

While CCF's main headquarters are in Namibia (SW Africa), its reach and vision is worldwide. Efforts are currently underway in Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, and Iran to help develop new conservation programmes or support existing cheetah conservation efforts. For an overview of CCF's Programmes, click here.

For Information re CCF as a Registered Trust/Charity/Non Profit Organization worldwide, click here.

CCF's Team

In the 'Meet the CCF's Team Section' you can find out about our great team assembled worldwide to save the wild cheetah from extinction, including CCF's dedicated Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Marker. In addition, in CCF Worldwide, find out about our USA and International Chapters/contacts. Please visit the Useful/Helpful Links pages for a full listing of supportive organizations and individuals.

 

This page is available in French. Click here.