Dr. Laurie Marker's Field Notes
November 2005

Dear Cheetah Friends,

My tour had a stellar start in New York, where newly elected Namibian President, His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, expressed his support of CCF's work during a speech at The Explorers Club on September 13th. "Nature conservation and the sustainable utilization of our natural resources stand at the core of our socio-economic development efforts. It is for this reason that we will continue to encourage the good work that the CCF has been doing in Namibia over the years," President Pohamba stated.

From New York, I traveled to Chicago along with CCF Interim Director, Lynda Gearheart, who toured with me throughout the country this year. We attended the AZA Conference with Mary Wykstra, CCF Kenya's Program Director. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I participated in two sessions: one on the Conservation Challenges of Big Cats, and the other being an overview of Cheetah SSP Research about what's going on in the field. And thanks so much to CCF USA/UK supporter, Kathy Tate-Bradish from Evanston, IL who sponsored an evening event for CCF.

From there, I had a short stop at CCF USA in Cincinnati, and then on to the Jackson Hole Film Festival in Wyoming with Darlene and Jeff Anderson, Cathryn Hilker, and National Geographic researcher and photographer, Mike Fay with Nick Nichols. Some of you might recall Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom CCF Special "Return of the Cheetah," shot in Namibia last year, which was nominated for a Wildlife Film Festival Award. A short about "Chance and Bravo," the two new ambassador cheetahs being raised by Cathryn Hilker at the Cincinnati Zoo, was also nominated. You can watch excerpts of the Wild Kingdom shooting in Namibiahere.

In New Jersey, I helped to launch the Audi/CCF Drive to Survive Tour chaired by Susan Babson, CCF Trustee. The Audi TT was donated to CCF by Audi of America. This thematically designed car by acclaimed New York artist Lynn Chase is being raffled as part of our fundraising efforts. Tickets are still available at our web page, so visit, see the car, and try your luck! The Tour kicked off with a fundraising party in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey at the Doris Duke Estate on October 1st. Bravo, Cathryn Hilker's ambassador cheetah helped to steal the limelight as well! The Audi TT Coupe along with driver Susan Babson and the Drive to Survive crew made national news headlines in the Columbus Day Parade in New York. With the Tour launched, it has traveled through New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Fort Worth, Grand Canyon, Napa Valley, Santa Rosa, San Francisco and Las Vegas, with final stops scheduled in Palo Alto, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles where the winner will be announced in mid-November.

After a day in Vermont with the Orvis 2006 Conservation Grantee, I then flew to the West Coast, where a busy schedule awaited me. The first event was held on October 5th at Safari West. Thanks so much to the event sponsors: Safari West Wildlife Foundation and The St. Francis Winery. On the 8th & 9th of October, I had the honor of sharing the podium with some of the world's most respected conservationists, including Jane Goodall, Ian Douglas-Hamilton, and Lawrence Frank, at the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) Expo, put on by CCF board member Charlie Knowles' team of WCN staff and incredible volunteers. About 1500 people attended the conference, gala reception and dinner.

My visit to Northern California concluded with a very special evening with CCF's Northern California's team headed up by new Chapter Head Richard Goold. An evening reception was held on October 10th at the home of Pat and Bill Miller, CCF Trustees and long-time supporters. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served (all donated by the volunteers) and we had two live cheetahs in attendance, thanks to the Dicely's at Leopards, Etc. Unfortunately, my visit there was cut short as I had to fly back to New York to make an appearance at the CBS Early Morning News Show. It was raining torrentially, but that didn't stop anyone from admiring the Audi TT Coupe on display at The Early Show Plaza. You can actually watch the interview online by clicking here.

Back on the West Coast again, I arrived in Portland to be met by Teresa Delaney and the Portland Chapter of CCF. Teresa had several great days planned. We started with several interviews on Friday, October 14th with former Oregon Governor John A. Kitzhaber, Honorary Run for the Cheetah Chairperson and my friend of 30 years- the focus of KINK FM's interview. Next was KATU TV's AM Northwest Program, followed by OPB's Oregon Territory Radio program (to listen click here), hosted by Christy George. Kgosi and Kamau, education cheetahs from Leopards, Etc. in Occidental, CA accompanied us. Great print coverage by The Oregonian, Lake Oswego Review and Portland Monthly Magazine helped us have sold out events all weekend. It didn't hurt that the cheetahs purred loudly at every interview. Governor Kitzhaber invited me and the cheetahs to be his guests at his sold out City Club address, and we met over 400 people there. Thank you Governor!

The Run for the Cheetah event with over 625 runners and walkers participating in the first annual Run for the Cheetah (5k and 8K), was held at the Oregon Zoo on Sunday, October 16th. Over 100 people registered the day of the race including several cast members of The Lion King who walked and ran to save the cheetah. ....Stay tuned for several Run for the Cheetah events in Portland, Phoenix as well as other cities in 2006. The weekend concluded with the 4th annual BIG CAT. BIG PARTY, CCF's annual Dinner and Auction - all events were a huge success and many thanks to all.

A brief stop in Miami to catch up with the Audi/CCF tour at the Ritz-Carlton, and then on to Houston where I was hosted by CCF Chairwoman, Annie Graham, and gave a lecture to a full house at the Houston Zoo. I was then joined by the Audi/CCF team in Atlanta for a fundraising event hosted by Phil Osborne, Founder and President/CEO of Bush Homes Africa Safaris and dear friend of CCF. Phil was presented with the 2005 Cheetah Conservation Fund Lifetime Conservation Award for his dedication in helping to get CCF started. He was one of the original donors of the land where CCF's Research and Education Centre is based in Namibia.

Before flying back home, I returned to Washington, DC and met up with our CCF Board members for our mid-year CCF Board meeting. CCF Trustee David Barron, from the International Conservation Caucus, planned a dinner for legislators that was very well attended, and a luncheon for legislative aides. We were thanking the Congress for their support of our USAID grant that has allowed us to develop the Bushblok plant in Otjiworango which opened earlier this year; and to get support for the H.R. 1707, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2005 - better known as the Wild Cat and Dog Bill. If this Bill passes, there will be designated funds for work to save 13 species of endangered wild carnivores. Along with us was Kagio, an ambassador cheetah from the Columbus Zoo. So for a few days, Capitol Hill was a buzz about cheetahs!

The final event of my fundraising tour was An Evening on the African Savannah -- A Celebration Benefiting CheetahConservation, organized by our CCF DC Chapter, led by long-time friend and supporter Beth Wallace and her able committee. The event was held at the Alexandria Land Rover Dealership, and participants had the opportunity to meet Columbus Zoo's ambassador cheetah, Kagio, and to learn about our work!

There is so much happening thanks to CCF's great team of staff, chapters and volunteers! We have enjoyed great print media coverage throughout the entire tour, as well as radio and TV. Besides the CBS Early Morning Show and the Oregon Public Radio appearances, ABC News played a national interview with me on October 6th with focus on CCF's Livestock Guarding Dog Program. The Program was also the center of another interview with SKY News TV, which reaches 80 million viewers in more than 40 countries across the world. Click here to watch the interview. CCF Namibia's Bonnie Schumann did a great job!

Please remember the Audi/CCF Drive to Survive Tour continues its cross-country tour with final stops in Las Vegas, Palo Alto, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. For details, visit our Event Calendar. And don't forget to buy tickets before you run out of time! The winner will be announced on November 18th.

On behalf of our entire CCF team, A BIG THANK YOU to all our supporters worldwide for your help in saving the wild cheetah.

Yours on behalf of the cheetah,

Laurie Marker, PhD
Founder and Executive Director
Cheetah Conservation Fund