Somaliland Cheetah Rescue: Authorities in Somaliland have rescued 11 cheetah cubs from traffickers, in what conservationists describe as one of the largest single confiscations of the species.
The cubs were discovered on Sunday, packed into bags resembling sacks of potatoes aboard a small dhow intercepted by the coast guard near Berbera, a port city along the Somaliland coast.
Two locals and three Yemeni nationals were arrested during the operation. The cubs were transferred to the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) rescue center for emergency care.
Somaliland’s Role in Wildlife Trafficking
Somaliland, a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa, has become a key transit point for the illegal wildlife trade, with cheetahs and leopards smuggled to Gulf countries via the Gulf of Aden.
Although possession of wildlife is illegal in Somaliland, conservation groups warn that the region remains a hotspot for trafficking. Just weeks earlier, in August, authorities seized another 10 cheetah cubs in a similar operation.
Conservationists Sound Alarm
CCF founder Laurie Marker said the cubs were “very malnourished”, requiring careful reintroduction to food. Despite intensive care, two cubs died shortly after arrival at the center. Two more remain in critical condition, while seven are responding to treatment.
Marker stressed that the illegal cheetah trade is accelerating the species’ decline. Her organization currently cares for 128 rescued cheetahs, a stark indicator of the scale of the crisis.
“Cheetahs are not pets,” she emphasized. “They are wild animals, top predators, and play a vital role in ecosystems. With fewer than 7,000 cheetahs left in the wild, every life lost to trafficking pushes the species closer to extinction.”
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Global Demand Driving Extinction Risk
The Horn of Africa has faced mounting pressure from the rise in demand for exotic pets in Gulf countries, which conservationists say fuels trafficking networks and undermines fragile ecosystems.
Wildlife advocates argue that busts such as the Somaliland cheetah rescue are critical to preserving the species, but they caution that continued international cooperation is needed to dismantle the trade routes.
“Stopping the illegal wildlife pet trade is not just about saving cheetahs,” Marker said. “It’s about safeguarding biodiversity for future generations.”
