In the heart of Somaliland’s Geed-Deeble savannah, a sanctuary is providing a lifeline to 127 cheetahs, all victims of a brutal trade that tears them away from their mothers to be sold as exotic pets in wealthy Gulf countries. These slender, spotted cats, known for their incredible speed and agility, now find refuge in a highly secured facility managed by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). This sanctuary plays a crucial role in protecting a significant portion of the region’s cheetah population, which faces severe threats from illegal wildlife trafficking.
The Horn of Africa is home to an estimated 600 cheetahs, a fraction of the approximately 7,000 remaining in the wild globally. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies cheetahs as “critically endangered” across most of Africa, except in the southern parts where their numbers are relatively higher. The sanctuary’s work is therefore vital in preserving this vulnerable species, especially in a region where poaching and smuggling have pushed the animals to the brink of extinction.
Chris Wade, the director of the CCF sanctuary, often calls out to the youngest cheetahs, their fur still fluffy and unkempt, as they eagerly run across the enclosure to greet him. Among them are eight cubs who arrived in dire condition last year, rescued from a smuggling vessel intercepted by Somaliland coastguard forces. These cubs were severely dehydrated and infested with parasites, a grim testament to the harsh conditions endured during their illegal transport. Despite intensive care, three of the eleven rescued cubs succumbed within days, highlighting the high mortality rate associated with this illicit trade.
Most of these cheetahs are captured in Somaliland or neighboring Ethiopia before being smuggled across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen, and subsequently transported to Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Local villagers involved in capturing the cubs receive a meager sum of $50 to $100, while the final sale price in the Gulf can skyrocket to between $15,000 and $20,000. This stark price disparity fuels the ongoing demand and perpetuates the cycle of illegal trafficking.
Somaliland’s coastguard commander, Admiral Ahmed Hurre Hariye, played a key role in intercepting the smuggling boat carrying the cubs, acting on intelligence that led to the rescue. The discovery was documented on video, showing the cheetahs confined in cramped, shallow holds. While the UAE and Saudi Arabia have enacted laws criminalizing the possession and trade of dangerous animals—UAE in 2016 and Saudi Arabia in 2022—the illegal trade persists. Animal trafficking experts continue to observe cheetahs appearing on social media platforms, indicating that smuggling routes remain active despite legal prohibitions.
Laurie Marker, the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, explains that for every cub that survives the journey to the Middle East, four or five perish en route due to harsh conditions. Even those that reach their destination rarely live beyond one or two years, suffering from malnutrition and diseases caused by improper care. A 2021 report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime estimated that around 300 cheetahs are smuggled annually from East Africa and the Horn of Africa, destined primarily for the luxurious residences of royal families and wealthy individuals in the Middle East. If this trend continues unchecked, the species faces the grim prospect of virtual extinction in the wild.
Somaliland’s Agriculture Minister, Abdilahi Jama Osman, has voiced strong opposition to the trade, describing its continuation as a potential “disaster” for the region’s wildlife. Authorities are intensifying efforts to combat trafficking networks and protect the remaining cheetah populations. Meanwhile, the sanctuary is not only a refuge but also a center for rehabilitation and conservation education.
Many of the cheetahs at the sanctuary have become habituated to human presence, especially those rescued as newborns. Wade recalls the youngest cubs arriving at just seven days old, some still attached to their umbilical cords, requiring bottle feeding up to eight times daily. This early human contact means these animals are unlikely to ever exhibit the remarkable hunting speeds—up to 120 kilometers per hour—that define wild cheetahs. However, there is cautious optimism for the future. The sanctuary is developing a 1,500-hectare rewilding area designed to gradually prepare younger cheetahs for a return to their natural habitat, offering a glimmer of hope for the species’ survival in the wild.
