Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Young Cheetah Rescued

23 August 2012

Categories: Homepage News, Big Cats Campaign News, Ensessakotteh News

Born Free Foundation Ethiopia has stepped in again to re-home a rescued cheetah cub from Somaliland. At just five months old, the youngster arrived at Enssesakoteh, our Wildlife Rescue, Conservation and Education Centre last week. Probably snatched from the wild early this year for the illegal trade, the cub was then confiscated in Somaliland and handed over to the care of Guenther Wirth of German NGO Agro Action. It is only a few months ago that Guenther delivered four other orphaned cubs into our care in Ethiopia.

Guenther and his colleague Janice drove the cheetah from Somaliland, through Harar in the east of Ethiopia and then onto Addis Ababa last Wednesday, arriving at our project office late in the evening. There they were greeted by Project Director Stephen Brend and Deputy Project Director, Bereket Girma. They spent the night in Addis and then made for the Centre early the next morning to be joined by our veterinary consultant Rea Tshopp. The young cheetah, who has been dependant on humans now for many months, was introduced to an enclosure next to another rescued cheetah, Sheeba. The cheetah, who we’ve still to name, will stay here while she is assessed and we decide on how best to manage her care over the next few months. Her arrival brings the total number of rescued cheetah in our care to nine; a stark reminder of the impact of the illegal trade on these wild animals.

This cub needs help and we are hoping you will assist... even if she can go back to the wild at some stage in the future, she will need care at the Born Free Rescue Centre in Ethiopia in the short to medium term. So, if you are willing to assist, please do consider making a donation.