RESCUED CHEETAHS
Four cheetah orphans
- Three of the rescued cheetah © BFF
Species: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Date of birth: November 2010
On 15th January 2011, the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority (ERCA) operating in eastern Ethiopia detained two wildlife traders in Somali Regional State. The cubs were found when officials at a checkpoint became suspicious of noises coming from plastic containers.
When the ERCA insisted that the individuals open the containers, which were allegedly destined for Somaliland, they refused and fled to the nearby jungle. When the containers were opened, five cheetah cubs were discovered, one which had already died. The four remaining tiny cheetah cubs, estimated to be approximately seven weeks old, were confiscated.
The cubs, three male and one female, were brought to Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) headquarters in Addis Ababa. EWCA then contacted Born Free Foundation who agreed to assist with the cheetahs’ care.
Find out the full story of the cheetahs here and if you would like to help to care for them, please click here.
SHEBA
- Sheba in his enclosure at Ensessakotteh © BFF/AM
Species: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Date of birth: 2006
In 2006, a young orphaned cheetah cub confiscated from an animal trader was being looked after by an American veterinarian and his wife. The male cub was named Sheba, which means “lame” in Amharic. With very lame back legs in addition to having been hand-raised, the cub could not be released back into the wild, so the cub was kept in an enclosure in Omo National Park where he spent a year and a half.
The organisation looking after Sheba decided to leave Ethiopia in 2008 and Born Free were asked to look after Sheba at the new Wildlife Centre. Since the Centre had not yet been constructed, Sheba was placed a temporary home at the Presidential Palace.
Thankfully, Sheba now resides in a spacious, naturalistic enclosure alongside Menelik where they are able to stretch their legs and bask in the sun taking in the view.
If you would like to help Born Free to care for Sheba, click here
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