Somaliland: Only 2 cubs remain from the group of 12 that were confiscated last week-CCF Cheetah

By: Mo Duale

Horndiplomat-The Cheetah Conservation Fund announced dead of seven of 12 cheetah cubs confiscated from a boat off the Somaliland coast on last week.

The Cheetah Conservation Fund saying

“Tragic news! Only 2 cubs remain from the group of 12 that were confiscated last week. Sadly, 7 cubs died within the first day of their arrival. The 2 surviving cubs have a good appetite, which gives us hope. The Illegal pet Cheetah trade is brutal and needs STOPPING NOW!.” Cheetah Conservation Fund said on Twitter.

On October 5, Somaliland  Ministry of Environment and Rural Development announced the took possession of 12 cheetah cubs confiscated from a boat off the Somaliland coast on Friday.

The cubs were intercepted by the Somaliland military and recovered in plastic hampers in deplorable condition. 4 died shortly after being confiscated. They’re only about 2 months old.

On July 20, The orphaned cubs were confiscated in Somaliland, an area known as the main transit route for cheetahs trafficked out of East Africa, according to a statement by Global animal welfare organisation Four Paws and the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).

The organisations are calling for donations to assist with the care of the cubs.

The cheetah pet trade is thriving due to the high demand for wild animals as status symbol pets, particularly in the Gulf States, according to the statement.

Research by CCF indicates an estimated 300 cheetahs are poached and smuggled into the Arabian Peninsula each year, to be sold in the illegal pet trade. There are fewer than 7 500 cheetahs in the wild today, although there was a population of 100 000 a century ago.

This is a developing story, Please check back at the Horndiplomat for Updates.

© Horn Diplomat 2019