Somaliland Wildlife Sanctuary

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Mark Natt, CCF's Program Manager in Somaliland, gives a progress report on the building of our Somaliland Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre (CRCC). The CRCC will become the new sanctuary for the cheetahs confiscated from the illegal wildlife/pet trade and it is set on more than 800 hectares at Geed-Deeble, a forest reserve about an hour’s drive from Hargeisa.

Once complete, in addition to the cheetah sanctuary and clinic, the CRCC will include education and vocational training facilities that will benefit students, teachers, pastoralists, wildlife caregivers, eco-rangers, and local CRCC staff. And, the CRCC will be open for public tours, with the purpose of educating Somaliland people and international visitors about the country’s ecosystems and indigenous wildlife.

 

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Somaliland delegation observes links between conservation and tourism | Namibia Economist

economist.com.na

Somaliland Delegation Observes Links Between Conservation And Tourism​

A high-ranking government delegation from Somaliland is visiting Namibia this week as the guests of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) to learn about the enormous potential of conservation when done in partnership with landowners.

The group of six includes Somaliland’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon Shukri Ismail, the Minister of Trade and Tourism, Hon Mohamoud Hassan Saad, the Minister of Parliament, Hon Mubarak Musa Ismail, the Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Production and Energy at Somaliland’s House of Representatives; the Head of Mission to the United States, Bashir Goth; and the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Senior Advisor to Parliament, Ms Fatima Saeed. This is their first visit to Namibia.

Conservation in Somaliland is hampered by the fact that the territory is not recognised as an independent country but it has a functional government and operates as a separate political entity from Somalia under the banner, the Republic of Somaliland.

The visiting delegation will explore the link between rural development, tourism and cheetah conservation. In this regard, it is guided by the Cheetah Conservation Fund which is based near Otjiwarongo in Namibia but with a very strong operational and institutional presence in Somaliland. For instance, the fund’s operations in Somaliland are so successful that there are now more than 80 young cheetahs in their care at three foster facilities.

Together with the Executive Director of the Namibian Association of Community Based Natural Resource Management Support Organizations (NACSO), Maxi Pia Louis, the CCF’s founder and Executive Director, Dr Laurie Marker is taking the delegation on a tour of central Namibia. The goal of the tour is to transfer institutional knowledge and experience about Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), eco-tourism, and the development of concessions around protected areas.

“The knowledge transfer between Namibia and Somaliland will assist the Somaliland government in developing their own model to meet the needs of nomadic pastoral communities while mitigating threats to wild species at their new CCF facility,” said Dr Marker.


In December 2021, the CCF and Somaliland sponsoring partner, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change began construction of the CCF Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre at Geed-Deeble (“Land of Trees”) to provide a permanent home for the animals.

The centre is built on 50,000 ha that the Somaliland government has set aside to become its first national park. When complete, the centre will provide a permanent home for the rescued cubs. Phase one of the complex is expected to be finished this year so that the cubs can be moved early next year.

 

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Namibia is widely considered to have model approaches noted for success. The visit will inform the delegation about Namibia’s conservation policies and about the daily operation of CCF’s world-renown Centre in Otjiwarongo. The Somaliland delegation will visit Erinidi Private Wildlife Reserve, Etosha National Park, Twyfelfontein, conservancies in the Kunene region and the CCF Centre. They will also meet with representatives from the Namibian government, conservation organizations and trade groups in Windhoek.

Somaliland’s Minister Shukri H. Ismail of the Somaliland Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC); Minister Mohamoud Hassan Saad, Minister of Trade and Tourism; Minister of Parliament Mubarak Musa Ismail, Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Production and Energy at Somaliland House of Representatives; Head of Mission to the United States, Bashir Goth; and Fatima Saeed, CCF’s Senior Advisor to Parliament, will travel to Namibia for the first time, representing Somaliland.

The Somaliland National Strategy for Decentralized Natural Resource Management (DNRM) was drafted in 2016 to address critical priorities including stabilizing rural communities severely impacted by drought; addressing livestock health and livestock predation; increasing community resiliency, and creating systems for rural governance.

 

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Canadians Provide Expertise at CCF Somaliland​

Meet Dr. Marshall and Nathalie Santerre​

Hailing from Ottawa and Quebec respectively, Dr. Ashley Marshall (Lead Vet) and Nathalie Santerre (Head Animal Keeper of Safe House 3) arrived in Somaliland, in March and April respectively, and have found a common thread in their Canadian approach to frontline conservation work.
Nathalie brings with her almost 20 years of expertise working in conservation programs with captive cheetahs which is a boon for managing the growing captive population in Somaliland.
As an emergency veterinarian with an equal passion for cats and travel, Ashley is learning the nuances of working with cheetahs. Through their time here together, they have brought ease, flexibility and a great sense of humour to the team as they work tirelessly to manage basic needs such as keeping the animals clean, healthy, well fed and engaged.
Additionally, they work closely to provide preventative medical care, such as vaccines and deworming, health monitoring, including blood and fecal assessments, and responding to any medical issues that may arise. Work with the cheetahs is mostly free contact and a large part of training includes getting the cheetahs used to physical manipulation and the squeeze cage for safe medical assessments.

Ashley and Nathalie describe what makes their job so special and so challenging​

One of the more trying parts of the job is when a call comes in alerting the team to a group of stolen cubs. Typically ranging in age from 1 to 6 months, and in group sizes of up to 15 individuals, CCF works closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) to access the cubs and take over their care.
Often arriving dehydrated and malnourished, covered in wounds and parasites and sometimes with ties and chains around them, it’s an uphill battle to efficiently and calmly assess, stabilize and offer them comfort.
The work is minute by minute – initially, after providing supportive care and nutrition, they are settled into safe, warm enclosures and monitored closely.
After a period of quarantine and acclimation, samples and measurements are taken in the least stressful manner. The veterinary team treats them for the treatable and slowly introduces them to adequately nutritious meals so as not to overwhelm their systems. But, even then, they can decline and unfortunately not all the confiscated cubs survive.

Gratifying work as well as some heartbreak​

The team works tirelessly around the clock in these initial days and the wins and the losses are felt immensely. For those that survive, we bond with the youngsters and feel pride in watching them grow into their bodies and their personalities which makes it all worthwhile.
Additionally, the data collected from the confiscation and from the medical assessments are used in court to help prosecute the poachers. Under the Forest and Wildlife Conservation Law (Act 69/2015), the current fine is 3/40 million Shillings and 1/5 years prison (Somalilander/Foreigner), hunting weapons and transportation used are also confiscated.

Working for CCF in Somaliland is beyond gratifying. It is an active, non-stop job that is truly on the frontlines of conservation within the illegal wildlife trade. We are not only grateful for the opportunity to contribute but have also shared knowledge, experience and made friends with other likeminded passionate conservationists from both Somaliland and around the globe.
As the cats will soon be moved to a bigger facility, out of the city with the opportunity to live in larger enclosures and have an opportunity to express more natural behaviours, we hope our presence is needed less. But until then, CCF will with continue to confront these issues, heart faced forwards.

 

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The Cheetah Conservation & Rescue Centre (CRCC) in Geed Deeble. Solar panels are being installed to make the Centre more self sufficient in its energy needs.

 

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