Cheetah conservation project in Namibia
Over the last 100 years, the global cheetah population has declined by almost 90%, from around 100,000 to only an estimated 7,100 animals in the wild. Most of these cheetahs live outside of protected areas on commercial farmland. Some farmers see the cheetahs as a threat to their livestock. They set traps and kill the elegant cats.
The Action Group for Species Protection (AGA) eV, together with its partner organization in Namibia, is committed to protecting cheetahs. Cheetah-friendly livestock farming methods are being developed to increase acceptance of cheetahs as part of a natural ecosystem in order to permanently resolve the ongoing human-wildlife conflict. One important project is the livestock guarding dog program. The dogs protect "their" livestock and thus increase the willingness of farmers to accept cheetahs on their farmland and not to kill them!
The AGA is also committed to protecting cheetahs in Kenya and Somaliland. The populations in the Horn of Africa are under particular pressure, as this is where the majority of cheetah cubs come from and are sold illegally as pets at street markets or on the Internet.
Injured and orphaned cheetahs are also cared for and looked after. If possible, they are released back into the wild, but if this is not possible, they find a species-appropriate and safe home with the AGA project partner.