My title is Sue Heim, and I’m each a volunteer and donor with CCF. I wished to be taught all I may about CCF, how the Analysis and Training Centre in Namibia is saving the cheetah, in addition to serving to Namibia and all of Africa. Whereas I work in audit and compliance for a big safety firm through the week, my weekends have been crammed with speaking to company as an interpretive volunteer (or docent) on the San Diego Zoo. I discuss a big number of animals, however my favorite is all the time the cheetah. In 2022, I made a decision I wished to do extra than simply be a donor with CCF, and have become a CCF volunteer with the Southern California Chapter. As a volunteer, I assist Jess Sorrentino, CCF’s Growth Affiliate (who lives close to me in San Diego) to unfold the phrase in regards to the cheetah. I met Dr Laurie Marker in April 2023, and was instantly impressed together with her ardour, and CCF’s mission to save lots of the cheetah. In October of that very same yr, I had the chance to spend a number of hours speaking with Dr Marker, and vowed I wanted to be taught extra and do extra. In December 2023, I lastly submitted my software to be a working visitor in Namibia, and spent 4 weeks at CCF in February. Consider me, 4 weeks wasn’t practically sufficient time! I fell in love with Namibia, its individuals, and most significantly, the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s centre and all of the individuals who work there (each staff and volunteers). The surroundings is spectacular, and I didn’t thoughts the warmth (typically 90F/32C) with rain (full with thunder and lightning) within the late afternoons to assist calm down the day.
Dr Laurie Marker’s motto is “save the cheetah, change the world” and the epicenter of all of the work occurs 35 minutes north of Otjiwarango, in a superb compound positioned within the bush (truly, on the 50,000 hectare, or 150,000 acre, protect owned by CCF). As a working visitor, I used to be assigned to work in virtually each space alongside employees, sharing the schedule with the interns and different volunteers visiting CCF. I helped care for nearly 30 cheetah; fed and walked the livestock guarding canines (LGDs); and made feta cheese and ice cream within the Dancing Goat Creamery. I helped make goat milk fudge within the Cheetah Cafe (together with a couple of different objects), harvested a bounty of produce from the backyard, and photographed the collaring and supreme launch of three orphaned cheetah siblings. I’ve expertise with horses, and had the consideration to assist look after CCF’s 5 horses twice a day together with Dr Marker. As a result of I wished to be taught and expertise all of it, I requested to requested to hitch the vet group for a goat examine (serving to to set a damaged leg that we discovered on a goat through the examine); went out with the scat detection group to coach and check these canines; obtained up early to go assist milk the goats within the morning; and joined the ecology group and interns as they went out to carry out fowl and animal counts.
I went with the perspective that I’d by no means say “no” and would do all that was requested of me. I discovered the place the cheetah’s most popular to depart their scat of their very giant yards, the way to check a feminine LGD for hormones to be taught see if she was in estruus (she was!), and rapidly overcame my aversion (as a vegetarian) to slicing up meat for the cheetah throughout weight loss program prep. (I additionally can not overlook that I washed dishes – so many dishes, irrespective of the place I used to be working!)
About These Cheetah
The cheetah at CCF are, for probably the most half, not in a position to be launched again into the wild. If we obtained cheetah cubs older than 4 months, they might be good candidates for re-releasing. Nonetheless, cheetah cubs lower than 4 months of age haven’t had sufficient time with their mom, who would ultimately have taught them the way to hunt, what to hunt, and simply as importantly, what predators to keep away from. The cheetah who’re candidates for re-release are stored distant from the every day actions of labor, company, and volunteers. These cheetah are deliberately stored wild, having contact solely with these of us who exit six instances per week to feed them, refresh their water, and clear up. (All cheetah at CCF are fasted in the future per week. That is meant to emulate their consuming habits within the wild.) Once I was there, we had 30 cheetah to deal with, however by the point I left, we had 27. They diversified in age from cubs (not but a yr) to a couple longtime residents (14 years outdated). Each day feeding meant driving round to the completely different habitats for many who weren’t positioned within the yards close to the middle pens, and feeding, watering, and cleansing. We’d sometimes “run” these cheetah, to maintain their muscle tissue toned with train. These within the Middle Pen space have been fed noon, and all entered the pens from their yards with a lot alacrity. The cheetahs all reside in teams of three or 4 largely. These coalitions have been fashioned both as a result of they’re siblings, or due to their ages and personalities). Only a few cheetah have been solitary in pens.
How the Mannequin Farm is Used – Educating by Instance
CCF runs a mannequin farm, to allow them to educate farmers the way to defend their herds of goats, sheep, and cattle. This can be a rather more efficient means for the farmers to know the significance of excellent enclosures, the way to defend their herds, and the significance of lowering human-wildlife battle. The LGDs are inserted into goat herds as puppies (beginning out with the goat youngsters) they usually develop up realizing that their job is to guard the goats. I discovered that the intuition for some LGDs was so nice, that these housed close to the goat herds virtually all the time tried to flee their yards throughout feeding – they actually wanted to get to these goats! Don’t overlook about all that recent goat milk! Dancing Goat Creamery reveals how recent goat milk will be pasteurized, and was scrumptious cheeses, yogurt, and ice lotions, which farmers can then promote of their native communities. Facet be aware: The feta cheese was my favorite – and if I may have found out the way to carry it dwelling with me, I’d have – whereas the ice cream was a scrumptious deal with on the finish of the day!! Working within the creamery meant that you’d see rapid outcomes, with cheeses got down to dry and treatment, or ice cream freezing within the freezers. All objects made have been used within the meals served on the group eating space, within the Cheetah Cafe, or in meals served to company staying at Cheetah View Lodge or Babson Home.
You Stated There Are Canine?
CCF raises canines for 2 completely different, however equally vital causes. The livestock guarding canines are often Anatolian shepherds or Kangals – large canines, with a loud bark, that may positively deter any cheetah (who’re non confrontational by nature). However the LGDs can even defend their herds from different intruders, together with leopards and snakes! These canines have a biteforce that’s larger than that of a lion! I cherished working with the canines – in any case, these have been the animals I may contact, petting and hugging them. (In Namibia, it’s unlawful to pet a cheetah. The Namibian authorities desires to implement the truth that cheetah should not pets.) Most canines lived in their very own pens, however the pens have been in teams. We’d feed the canines twice a day, and deal with water bowls and scooping of their yards. On the finish of the day, if it wasn’t too scorching out, we’d take numerous completely different canines out for walks.
See photographs:
LGD Feb 10.jpg; Oonkondo LGD Feb 10.jpg; Strolling Clio Feb 6.jpg
We additionally produce other canines which can be scat detection canines. These canines are skilled to hunt out cheetah scat. The scat is utilized in a number of methods. If a farmer thinks there’s a cheetah close by, the canines assist affirm by scenting the scat. The scat can be collected, and endure testing to determine the cheetah (male or feminine), if the feminine is in estruus, what the cheetah has been consuming, and different well being markers. The scat detection canines are taken out every day, and are put by means of their paces to detect scat in a monitored setting.
Reversing Habitat Loss
CCF is actively working to reverse habitat loss, not solely in Namibia, however throughout Africa. CCF Bush was established to take away the invasive thornbush, and switch it right into a log that may be burned for gasoline or warmth, referred to as Bushblok. Eradicating thornbush permits the cheetah to seek out prey species, and for prey species to flourish as a result of the savannah is returned to intensive grasslands. I didn’t get a possibility to see the Bushblok operation in motion, in order that will probably be my aim for my subsequent journey (keep tuned, this was the primary of many visits!). The groups will lower down invasive thornbush within the cheetah yards, in addition to areas of the protect. I do know that a few of my sundown footage have been so breathtaking as a result of the savannah confirmed grasses within the sundown. See photographs:
Cheetah Yard Feb 6.jpg; Storm within the Distance Waterberg Plateau Feb 27.jpg
Visiting for a Day or Staying for A number of
My preliminary aim was to seek out out all I may about CCF and the way to assist the cheetah. Whereas there, I noticed I additionally had a novel alternative to be taught see what it will be prefer to be a visitor visiting CCF for a day or two (or extra!). Company can be taught in regards to the cheetah, profiting from the a number of excursions supplied (together with the cheetah run or cheetah drive). Whereas I used to be at CCF, I met many company from everywhere in the world, who stayed on the Cheetah View Lodge or Babson Home. I visited each services so I may be taught see what every was like and will assist promote company visiting and staying at CCF. The Lodge has 5 items, every with a superb view of the backyard surrounding the unit or the panorama (and perhaps even the waterhole). Stays right here embody breakfast and dinner (and the meals are fabulous). The Babson Home is a luxurious guesthouse that may accommodate six individuals. A non-public chef prepares meals right here, and company can sit on the veranda and watch a few of our resident cheetah beneath. Each lodgings are created with consolation and luxurious in thoughts, and embody comfy seating, pretty views, and exquisite art work. In a single day company are additionally supplied the Safari Sundowner Drive into CCF’s “Little Serengeti” with wildlife galore.
You don’t want to remain at CCF to benefit from the every day actions – you generally is a day customer and are available to look at the cheetah run, view the afternoon feeding within the Middle Pen space, or obtain a guided strolling tour. After that, company are free to wander by means of the museum, and extra. Day guests can e book actions on-line or by phone.
Ultimate Ideas
I had no expectations of what I’d be doing as a working visitor. I really simply hoped I’d be capable of assist with the cheetah and canines, and be taught as a lot as I may in regards to the cheetah within the wild. I discovered a lot extra! I met so many fabulous individuals – from the employees to the interns from everywhere in the world, to our company. A few of these are going to be lifelong buddies as nicely! After the primary week, I settled right into a routine that was comfy. I ate meals on the communal Sizzling Spot eating space, walked 10’s of hundreds of steps, and slept like a log each evening. I didn’t simply keep on the analysis centre, but in addition managed to go to Etosha Nationwide Park on a fast weekend getaway, and buy groceries in Otjiwarongo (the place I purchased a stunning formal robe for a gala I used to be to attend the weekend after I returned dwelling). I shopped within the Spar Supermarkets in Otjiwarongo and Outjie and felt proper at dwelling – particularly within the produce part the place I even purchased avocados! I went on quite a few recreation and evening drives, and so many wild animals, that I misplaced depend! I even grew to become a little bit of a birder, being in whole awe of a few of the birds, particularly the Kori Bustard! My expertise at CCF was, fairly actually, life-altering. I did a lot, discovered a lot, helped a lot, and had a lot enjoyable doing all of it, that I can not wait to return!