Desperate race to save the cheetah
STAFF REPORTER
WINDHOEK
Driven by the need to serve remote communities far from its international field research and education centre at Otjiwarongo, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) has established a field base in eastern Namibia.
Both the CCF research and farmer reports indicate a decline in the number of cheetahs in the country.
The CCF attributes this decline to multiple factors, including bush encroachment in the central northern parts of the country, fragmented habitat and an increased number of leopards which dominate cheetah, pushing them out of their territories.
The new extension of the CCF’s presence in Namibia is known as CCF East – Carnivore Conflict Support Field Station.
The fund recently launched the new station in the Omaheke and Okakarara areas. The two areas border one another and consist of freehold, resettlement and communal farms, the livelihoods being livestock and game farming.
Reducing conflict
The CCF decided to create a base in the east after noticing an increase in conflict between farmers and cheetahs and African wild dogs due to severe drought during the past couple of years.
From this location, the CCF will provide immediate support for farmers in response and advice as well as looking at management strategies to reduce conflict.
The CCF teams have built relationships with farmers in these areas and have begun ecological research on carnivores there to develop a better understanding of livestock, wildlife and rangeland management.
The CCF’s environmental education programme for schools will be more active from this location soon.
Additionally, the CCF mans a 24-hour farmer support hotline implemented by the Large Carnivore Association of Namibia, of which the fund is a founding member, offering advice and a network of partner organisations available to assist with human-wildlife conflict in different regions and with different carnivore species.
WINDHOEK
Driven by the need to serve remote communities far from its international field research and education centre at Otjiwarongo, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) has established a field base in eastern Namibia.
Both the CCF research and farmer reports indicate a decline in the number of cheetahs in the country.
The CCF attributes this decline to multiple factors, including bush encroachment in the central northern parts of the country, fragmented habitat and an increased number of leopards which dominate cheetah, pushing them out of their territories.
The new extension of the CCF’s presence in Namibia is known as CCF East – Carnivore Conflict Support Field Station.
The fund recently launched the new station in the Omaheke and Okakarara areas. The two areas border one another and consist of freehold, resettlement and communal farms, the livelihoods being livestock and game farming.
Reducing conflict
The CCF decided to create a base in the east after noticing an increase in conflict between farmers and cheetahs and African wild dogs due to severe drought during the past couple of years.
From this location, the CCF will provide immediate support for farmers in response and advice as well as looking at management strategies to reduce conflict.
The CCF teams have built relationships with farmers in these areas and have begun ecological research on carnivores there to develop a better understanding of livestock, wildlife and rangeland management.
The CCF’s environmental education programme for schools will be more active from this location soon.
Additionally, the CCF mans a 24-hour farmer support hotline implemented by the Large Carnivore Association of Namibia, of which the fund is a founding member, offering advice and a network of partner organisations available to assist with human-wildlife conflict in different regions and with different carnivore species.
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