In Somaliland, CCF is also protecting cheetahs and empowering local communities through innovative ecological research. As part of broader efforts to understand cheetah populations in the Horn of Africa, CCF’s ecological research is combining technology and community insights to address the biggest threat to cheetahs in the region – the illicit trade in wildlife, which continues to threaten wild cheetah populations. Last November, a multidisciplinary team launched a pioneering field surveying expedition focused on mapping the status, range, and distribution of cheetahs across Somaliland, the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia, and Puntland. Following approval from Somaliland’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), in January of this year 72 camera traps were deployed in Somaliland’s rugged and mountainous Awdal Region. These surveys will provide greater insight into the cheetah’s habitat and help us understand its current population. Community engagement is also central to this work. Researchers have also partnered with local nomadic communities, who add critical context to the ecological data. This collaboration not only enhances our research, but also builds important relationships that help our conservation initiatives succeed. Want to learn more about how CCF is protecting cheetahs and empowering communities in Somaliland? bit.ly/4bK4ILW #conservation #research #biodiversity #cheetah #ecology #ccfcheetah

Have you ever wondered what it takes to return a rehabilitated #cheetah to the #wild? In preparation for #WorldRewildingDay tomorrow, this week on CheetahTV host Brian Badger unpacks the complicated process, exploring what it takes to successfully return animals to the wild, with insights from Eli Walker, Rehabilitation and Release Specialist at Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). The new episode premieres today at 1 PM EST. Watch it here: bit.ly/3DRfbZh