Dr. Laurie Marker's Field Notes
September 2006

Dear Cheetah Friends,

It has been over three months since our last e-Letter, and I would like to share some of the many things happening in the CCF world.

CCF in Namibia

Camera Trapping Project - Wild Cheetah Photos

Despite torrential rains (some 27-1/2"/700mm) the first half of '06, CCF's camera traps research has yielded over 6,500 photos, 6% contained photos of cheetahs. Currently at least 12 individual cheetahs have been identified, and in October we will begin a new camera trapping session to evaluate cheetah density during a different season of the year. The wildlife and vegetation-monitoring project is possible only with the extraordinary assistance of Earthwatch and other volunteers. Come to CCF Namibia as a working volunteer; we welcome your help.

Wild Animal Counts

We also held our 11th Annual Waterberg Conservancy's Full Moon Waterhole Count on the 9th of August. CCF conducted volunteer orientation, prepared record sheets and identification guides, and transported volunteers. Nearly 100 waterholes were observed within the Waterberg Conservancy. One group reported seeing wild dogs and another group a rhino - we haven't confirmed either of these sightings and are checking on it, but we are hoping it's true! Wild dogs do pass through this area - but a rhino!!!

Counters included the Otjiwarongo and Khorixas youth forums, and Miami University. The groups all bonded and said it was an amazing experience for all - 24 hours in the middle of the wild - making new friends - what could be better. One volunteer who didn't get to see many unusual animals said,"With many hours still left, I wondered how we would pass the time, sitting in our blind, as it got colder and colder. As one of our group members took her turn to sleep for a few hours, Beauty (an 18-year-old girl from Namibia) and I started talking. The time that we spent talking is one of my most vivid memories of my experience in Namibia... that was the most significant part of the waterhole count."

Farmers' Training - A Top Priority for CCF

Since 2003, CCF has hosted over 330 participants in a variety of farmer training programs especially developed by CCF. These comprehensive programs include "Communal Conservancy Management Plans" and "Integrated Livestock and Predator Management" courses, "Conservancy Management Plan Workshops" and "Practical Farming."

CCF will continue to expand these innovative educational forums for Namibian farmers as the survival of Africa's habitat and wild animals is in large part in the hands of the farmers. Through training, CCF has the opportunity to help the farmers become better stewards of the land and this will benefit habitat and wild animals. In the long run, the farmers will be one of the most important components in saving all things wild in Africa. All of us at CCF see education as the key element in making a difference.

CCF's Resident Cheetah, Shiraz, Successfully Reintroduced to the Wild

You may remember me telling you about Shiraz and her four cubs born in July 2005 and their "soft release." By all accounts, this was an extremely successful release as Shiraz, who had never hunted or been out of a captive situation, made her first known kill after 3 1/2 months of her release in February. However, due to potential farmer conflict issues resulting from the habituation of the cheetahs around people, we decided to relocate the cheetah family to Erindi Ranch, a 65,000-ha, predator-proof farm where the cats would be used for eco-tourism. An hour after release at Erindi, the cheetahs killed a steenbok, and three days later they were reported to have caught a male springbok. Since their release at the end of June, they have only been fed once.

CCF's 7th Annual Celebration of Speed and Elegance

This year, we were so honoured to have with us for the evening's festivities, Dr. Sam Nujoma, Namibia's Founding President and the International Patron of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Dr. Nujoma welcomed our 350 guests with his opening remarks. Mr. Dave Pepler, a well-known conservation journalist from South Africa's popular DSTV program Groen, delivered an entertaining speech, "Celebration of Speed and Elegance: a Journalist's View."

CCF's awards recognizing unsung heroes of conservation were presented to Volker Grellmann, Founding President of NAPHA and Chairman of the Nagoragombe Conservancy; Mr. Johannes Damaseb of the Otjiwarongo district farm, Cleveland; and Josephine Henghali, past CCF Senior staff member. CCF's Senior Research Assistant Matti Nghikembua received special recognition for recently receiving the Disney Conservation Hero Award from the United States. Through the generosity of many Namibian businessmen as well as MeatCo, this year's gala was a tremendous success.

Cheetah Reproduction Research

In July, a team of researchers from the Smithsonian Institute and the University of California, Davis-both in the US, arrived at CCF to conduct pioneering research on the biology of female cheetah reproduction in collaboration with CCF. A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) film crew documented the program. The research team induced oestrus in eleven female cheetahs of all ages and extracted their eggs before ovulation. The researchers then performed in vitro fertilization with sperm collected from one of CCF's male cheetahs. Since reproduction is such a difficult feat for captive cheetahs, we hope that the project will help develop methods of impregnating the females and thus conserve their invaluable genes that would infuse the captive population with much needed genetic variation.

It truly has been a busy time for us here in Namibia, and our staff has been terrific at making these and all day-to-day tasks happen. Thanks to all!

CCF in East Africa

I had the pleasure of visiting with Mary Wykstra and her CCF team in Kenya in June. They have been working very hard on the national cheetah census. The team drove 4,500 km doing field work during the first half of 2006 and is already mapping the areas of cheetah presence and evaluating methods for calculating population estimates. Their case study and radio tracking of problem cheetah in the Machakos Wildlife Forum continues, while their community development activities included the first Community Livestock Dip Management Workshop in May. The CCF Kenya team has also initiated a Cheetah Country Kenya Crafts program, whereby artists are developing styles, colours and patterns for crafts specifically to raise funds for cheetah research. We can't thank Mary, Cosmas, and Lumumba enough for their hard work.

During this trip I also visited Ethiopia to assess the situation with the cubs rescued over Thanksgiving week in 2005, and meet with various people and organizations to discuss ways in which we can collaborate to address illegal wildlife trafficking in that country. For a full report of my trip, click here.

CCF Around the World

If you are in Japan or the Netherlands, please remember to visit our new independent chapters: CCF Japan and Stichting SPOTS (Holland) at www.ccfjapan.org and www.stichtingspots.nl. Both organizations, along with all of CCF's US chapters, CCF UK and Canada, are working hard to support our work to save the cheetah. We also remind you that we have many cheetahs living at our Centre in Namibia that need sponsors. A cheetah sponsorship makes a wonderful birthday present, and don't forget that the holidays are only three months away! To sponsor a cheetah in the US, click here; outside the US, click here. one of them, please visit in the US or outside the US.

We are also excited because music lovers everywhere can now help the cheetah with the new "Downloads for Dollars." This is a revolutionary idea partnering stellar independent musicians with established non-profit organizations. Cheetah supporters will be able to download from iTunes the beautiful song "From a Window," performed by the Swedish band Slowmo. CCF will receive 50% of the download price of $0.99.

Downloads for Dollars was created by DJ Come of Age and Markus Ekholm. A world-renowned DJ/producer combo, the two have garnered international acclaim with the pod cast "Soul Music of the World" and a catalog of over 200 songs, beats, and graphic designs.

CCF on the Media

In addition to the BBC, CCF hosted many journalists and writers, and continues to be proactive on the media front by feeding news releases to our international media contacts. We have also handled numerous media inquiries for prestigious publications such as National Geographic Kids (US) and Meridiani (Italy). A CNN interview covering CCF's work has been airing on the internet since last May at www.ibnlive.com.

We are also proud to announce two fantastic CCF videos now available for viewing on our web site - click here to access them. Many thanks to Paul Garrett for creating the videos. We also thank narrator Andrew Healey and composer Timothy S. Clarke for the original music. Incidentally, Paul and his family will have their Kidsloveanimals.com DVD available for sale at our CCF events October 14-15 in Portland, Oregon. Please stop by to meet Paul, and thank him for everything he has done to support CCF!

CCF in the US

The Orvis Company

The 150th Anniversary of The Orvis Company has also received extensive media coverage in the US. Orvis, one of the world's premiere sporting goods retailers, has set an example of commitment to conservation by choosing CCF as its first International Conservation Grant recipient. We are grateful for the response that we have received by Orvis and their customers, which have raised nearly $100,000 through their matching campaign to support Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia.

Lynda Gearheart, US Director, and the Columbus Zoo's outreach cheetah, Kagio, were on hand for a special showing at the Orvis celebration in Vermont on August 19th to personally deliver CCF's thank-you gifts from National Geographic's Chris Johns --a signed cheetah photograph originating from Through the Lens: National Geographic's Greatest Photographs. CCF was truly grateful for everyone's enthusiasm and support of preserving the cheetah in the wild.

With much excitement, it is an honour to mention that The Orvis Company has decided for the first time in its history of conservation grants to select CCF for two consecutive years as its international grant recipient. We personally wish to thank The Orvis Company and their customers for such a prestigious honor in helping to raise awareness and funds for the endangered cheetah. For details on how to participate in the Orvis' Matching Gift Program, go to the Orvis web site . Note that you need to send your donations to a special Orvis address, in the form of a cheque in US dollars, drawn on a US bank.

Upcoming US Fall Tour

Plans are underway for my upcoming 2006 Fall Tour in the United States, which will include the 2nd Annual Run for the Cheetah events in Portland, 14-15 October. Click here to register and learn more about these events.

As a precursor to my coming to the States, I had the opportunity to meet with CCF Trustee Dave Barron, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, and the US Ambassador in Windhoek, Joyce A. Barr. During the meeting, we discussed CCF and the International Conservation Caucus Foundation's Gala set for 19 September 19, which coincides with my tour. Please visit our web site for more information and details on such upcoming fall events as WCN Expo from 4-9 October; Safari West's cheetah benefit, A Celebration of Speed and Elegance on October 10th; Silent Auction and Dinner at Joan Embery's Ranch in San Diego on October 11th; Portland's Run for the Cheetah weekend events on 14-15 October; CCF lecture sponsored by the San Antonio Zoo on 19 October, and the DC Chapter's City Club event on 23 October.

Keep an eye out on all the cities and the various public events that will be posted on my tour calendars so we can possibly meet. Hope to see you soon!

On a Special Note

We want to express our thanks to the Cincinnati Zoo for hosting CCF for nearly three years, making it possible for us to get our feet on the ground so that now we can have our own offices in the Ft. Worth area of Texas, where our US Director, Lynda Gearheart, is based. Thanks so much also to our terrific CCF USA staff for making the move go smoothly despite their heavy daily workload!

Our gratitude also to all of you who support CCF's work. The wild cheetah needs all the help it can get to survive, and we need you so we can continue to help them.

Yours on behalf of the cheetah,

Laurie Marker, PhD
Founder and Executive Director
Cheetah Conservation Fund

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