Cheetahs, the world’s fastest land animals, are facing a dire future, with barely 7,000 remaining in the wild—down from an estimated 100,000 a century ago.
While habitat loss and hunting have significantly impacted their numbers, the growing trend of keeping cheetahs as pets in wealthy Gulf states has further endangered the species.
Conservationists warn that the illegal wildlife trade, which involves smuggling cubs from the Horn of Africa to the Middle East, is a critical threat to the survival of these vulnerable cats.
The Illegal Trade of Cheetah Cubs
Cheetah cubs, often taken from their mothers in Africa, endure a harrowing journey to the Middle East, often passing through conflict zones like Yemen. Many of these cubs do not survive the trip, and those that do can sell for up to $15,000 on the black market.
The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) estimates that around 300 cubs are trafficked yearly through Somaliland, a breakaway region between Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia, to satisfy the demand for exotic pets among wealthy buyers.
Laurie Marker, founder of CCF, oversees the rescue and rehabilitation of confiscated cubs at the Cheetah Safe House in Somaliland. She expresses concern over the high mortality rates of the trafficked cubs, highlighting the fragile state of some, such as a tiny, underweight cub named Green.
Impact on the Cheetah Population
Cheetahs, known for reaching speeds up to 70 mph, are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
However, with their numbers continuing to decline rapidly, there are calls for cheetahs to be reclassified as endangered.
Cheetahs in North Africa and Asia are already listed as critically endangered, largely due to habitat destruction, human encroachment, and the pet trade.
From 2010 to 2019, more than 3,600 live cheetahs were illegally traded worldwide, with many advertised on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Marker warns that the continued exploitation of cheetah cubs for the pet trade could drive the species to extinction.
Conservation Efforts and Challenges
CCF is actively working to mitigate the cheetah population’s decline through various conservation efforts, including habitat restoration, scientific research, and conflict resolution between cheetahs and humans.
In Namibia and Somaliland, CCF has provided guard dogs to farmers to protect livestock from cheetah attacks, reducing the need to capture or kill the animals.
The organization also strives to change attitudes in Gulf states, where cheetahs are viewed as status symbols.
Despite a 2017 ban on owning, trading, and breeding cheetahs in the United Arab Emirates, enforcement remains challenging.
The law includes penalties of up to $136,000 in fines and six months in prison, but the illegal trade persists, fueled by the desire for exotic pets.
Somaliland’s Struggle Against Wildlife Crime
Combatting the illegal cheetah trade is especially difficult in Somaliland, a region lacking international recognition and struggling to control its borders.
Interior Minister Mohamed Kahin Ahmed notes that the small Coast Guard unit is overwhelmed, dealing with not just wildlife traffickers but also human smugglers and arms dealers.
The conditions for smuggled cheetahs are often appalling. Cubs are frequently confined to small cages, improperly fed, and mistreated.
In one particularly cruel incident in 2019, confiscated cubs were found piled on top of one another, some alive and others dead.
However, recent efforts by the Somaliland government, supported by international partners, have led to significant progress.
Confiscations of cubs have increased, and laws criminalizing the sale of cheetahs are now being enforced.
In 2020, authorities dismantled a major smuggling ring, resulting in the prosecution of a high-profile trafficker.
Working with Local Communities
Efforts to curb the illegal trade also involve addressing the economic struggles of rural communities in Somaliland.
Farmers, whose livestock often fall prey to cheetahs, sometimes capture and sell cubs to recoup their losses.
Conservationists are working to find solutions that protect both the cheetahs and the livelihoods of these communities.
Despite the challenges, there is hope for the species. At CCF’s rescue centers, veterinarians like Ahmed Yusuuf Ibrahim dedicate their efforts to nursing sickly cubs back to health.
Ibrahim, who affectionately refers to the cheetahs as his “babies,” ensures that they receive proper care, including regular feedings of camel meat.
“The next generation may never see a cheetah if this illicit trade continues,” warned Edna Adan Ismail, Somaliland’s former foreign minister, at a recent anti-poaching conference.
With the combined efforts of conservationists, local communities, and government officials, there is still a chance to secure a future for one of Africa’s most iconic species.
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