Feed Orphan Cheetahs in Namibia

The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Breaks Ground on New Cheetah Education and Training Complex in Somaliland in Collaboration With Detour Habitats, SDI Architecture, and the Royal Commission for AlUla

December 5, 2024 – The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), supported by the Royal Commission for AlUla in Saudi Arabia, is building a new Cheetah Education and Training Center at their second African outpost, in Somaliland. Construction of the Complex has already begun, with foundations expected to be laid this month, and the first phase of the building project anticipated to be completed within six months. As construction progresses, Detour Habitats and SDI Architecture invite wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists, and the global community to support this vital initiative.

Started in Namibia by Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF is an international organization dedicated to saving cheetahs in the wild. Dr. Marker moved to Africa in 1990 to develop CCF’s first international cheetah research and education center in Namibia on a 156,000-acre private wildlife reserve. In 2022, she set up the second Center in Somaliland to care for over 90 cheetahs confiscated from the illegal wildlife pet trade. As founder of CCF, Dr. Marker has restored thousands of acres of Namibian farmland, introduced the concept of livestock guarding dogs to Africa, established a training program to enhance the livelihoods of rural residents, and regularly consults with government officials on issues surrounding the illegal pet trade.

The global conservation leader who’ shaped the trajectory of cheetah conservation is collaborating with Detour Habitats and SDI Architecture, merging wildlife conservation and innovative design in order to construct the state-of-the-art Education Complex at CCF’s Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Center in Somaliland, where the region’s cheetah sub-species was recently uplisted to Endangered on the Red List by the IUCN. To make it happen, SDI Architecture is tackling unique design challenges posed by Somaliland’s extreme climate, including hurricane-force winds and the need for sustainable, passive cooling systems.

The Education Complex project has been spearheaded by Prasanna Lachagari, Partner & Design Director of SDI Architecture (and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree) and is set to revolutionize conservation efforts in the region. The Complex, featuring classrooms and separate dormitories is designed to provide a space for an immersive learning experience. “We’re not just building an Educational Complex; we’re creating a lifeline for communities who are living on the lands with cheetahs,” said Prasanna, whose passion for nonprofit and design-for-good initiatives has been the driving force behind the project. “Working with Dr. Marker is an honor. Her expertise in cheetah conservation and human-wildlife conflict resolution is unparalleled and a constant inspiration. We’re committed to making a real difference together.”

“The Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre in Somaliland, which currently has a veterinary clinic, critical cheetah cub care area, and staff housing has been a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to protect cheetahs across Africa,” adds Dr. Marker. “Adding the Education and Training Complex will allow us to train rangers, communities, farmers and youth. By expanding our successful Namibian model to Somaliland, we’re creating new–and very much needed–opportunities for cheetah conservation and community engagement.”

Support for this phase of the Education Complex has come from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) who are actively involved in supporting the conservation of big cats and their habitats. Through such initiatives, RCU is committed to assisting the conservation of the cheetah population and associated community education efforts, with the aim to see wild populations of cheetahs thriving in safety in their native habitats, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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