Laurie Marker vince un premio!

Siamo felici di annunciare che la Dr. Laurie Marker verrà insignita del President’s Award for Conservation in occasione della Cena Annuale dell’ Explorers Club  – ECAD 2020!

La Dr. Laurie Marker, Fondatrice e Direttore Esecutivo del Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), è una biologa conservazionista riconosciuta quale una delle maggiori esperte mondiali di ghepardi. La sua attività con i ghepardi è iniziata nell’Oregon’s Wildlife Safari nel 1974, e nel 1977 ha iniziato le sue ricerche  in situ da vera pioniera in Namibia. La Dr. Marker ha identificato per prima la mancanza di diversità genetica della specie. In Namibia si è resa conto che gli allevatori di bestiame uccidevano centinaia di ghepardi ogni anno, percependoli come minaccia, cosicché avviò la sua lunga ricerca nel campo della biologia ed ecologia del ghepardo, oltre alle strategie sulla conservazione per mitigare i conflitti.

Nel 1990, la Dr. MArker lascia  il suo incarico di Direttore Esecutivo del Centro NOAHS Center presso la  Smithsonian Institution e si trasferisce in Namibia. La sua ricerca rigorosa, i suoi programmi di conservazione creativi e la sua filosofia olistica le hanno fatto ottenere il rispetto della nazione e di altri paesi che hanno ghepardi. Nel 2020 il CCF festeggia il suo  30. anniversario.

Oggi il CCF è l’istituzione di ricerca mondiale di prim’ordine che si estende su un territorio di riserva integrata di fauna selvatica e bestiame di 143.000 acri.  Attualmente, la Dr. Marker sta operando in Somaliland per interrompere il commercio illegale di cuccioli di ghepardo. Ha conseguito un Dottorato di Ricerca in zoologia all’Universita’ di Oxford. E‘ un A.D.White Professor-at-Large presso la Cornell University e ha pubblicato più di 135 documenti scientifici peer-reviewed e libri sul ghepardo. 

Tra i vari riconoscimenti della Dr. Marker si ricordano il  E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award (2015), il Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (2010), e Il  TIME Magazine’s Hero for the Planet. Il suo profilo è apparso nello Smithsonian Magazine, sul  National Geographic, alla CNN,  su BBC News ed è apparsa in numerose trasmissioni televisive e in molti documentari.

Per i biglietti del  #ECAD2020, cliccare qui: bit.ly/2C5Z1bc

Il CCF avrà un ruolo cruciale nel reintrodurre il ghepardo estinto in India

Cheetah Conservation Fund to play a pivotal role in reintroducing the extinct cheetah in India

Dichiarazione della Dr. Laurie Marker sui recenti attacchi sui social

Il Cheetah Conservation Fund prende atto degli attacchi sferrati da alcuni social media ai programmi del CCF e alla Dr. Laurie Marker.

La politica del CCF è quella di non replicare a tali attacchi.

Al contrario, il CCF si concentra sugli sforzi profusi nella ricerca e nei programmi atti a salvare la specie dall’estinzione.

Noi rispondiamo con i 30 anni di leadership nella comunità globale.

I programmi di ricerca, educazione e conservazione pieni di successo sviluppati dalla Dr. Marker vengono costantemente adeguati ed estesi a tutti gli areali dei ghepardi.

Il CCF collabora con tutti gli attori coinvolti per i ghepardi per sviluppare le migliori prassi nell’allevamento del bestiame, nella gestione dei territori e nella rigenerazione dell’habitat, a favore di tutte le specie che condividono il territorio.

Unitevi a noi nel nostro costante impegno!

Un bell’articolo!

cheetah.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CCF.pdf

Rapporto Somaliland 2019

Cari Amici, cari Soci, pubblichiamo il rapporto sul Somaliland che ci è stato appena inviato dal CCF. E’ in inglese, ma contiamo di tradurlo al piu’ presto e lo invieremo ai nostri indirizzi mail.
La situazione in Somaliland è cambiata, grazie a diversi donatori (noi compresi) che hanno aiutato a costruire il secondo rifugio per i ghepardi che ci sono. Qui sotto leggerete cifre ufficiali e vedrete la situazione di Hargeisa.
Speriamo che con queste inoformazioni vi faremo cosa gradita e scioglieremo alcuni eventuali dubbi.
E’ importante confiscare questi cuccioli perchè se passano il mare e arrivano nella Penisola Iberica, la domanda continuerà a crescere.
Nel contempo, Vi auguriamo buon anno nuovo!

Il CCF Italia

CCF SOMALILAND 2019 REPORT
Dr. Laurie Marker Founder & Executive Director CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND Phone: +264 (0) 81 124 7887 Email: director@cheetah.org
January 8, 2020

CCF SOMALILAND
CHEETAH RESCUE & CONSERVATION CENTRE PHASE ONE, JUNE-DECEMBER 2019
In 2011, CCF began collaborating with the Somaliland Ministry of Environment & Rural Development (MOERD) to provide support for efforts to disrupt illegal wildlife trade in cheetah. From 2011 until 2016, CCF’s primary activities involved assisting the Ministry with the placement of intercepted specimens in accredited facilities in neighboring Horn nations, communicating with cheetah stakeholders and international enforcement agencies, and leveraging CCF’s media profile to raise awareness of the cheetah trade. Following a change in Somaliland law in 2016, CCF began assisting the Ministry with the management of confiscated cubs in Somaliland. CCF raised funds that made it possible to establish the first temporary holding facility in Hargeisa in April 2017. CCF also began paying for food and care of confiscated cubs, cooperating with MoERD and Gunther Wirth of GIZ to manage on the ground. By April of 2019, it became apparent that the project had grown beyond the capacity of Mr. Wirth. In May 2019, following a site visit by Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF Founder & Executive Director, and a series of meetings with Somaliland government ministries and President Bihi, CCF took over management of the cubs. While in Hargeisa, CCF proposed a plan to create a permanent sanctuary for cheetahs that will drive conservation, wildlife education and tourism in Somaliland. This report summarizes CCF’s key accomplishments from June to December 2019.
May 25, 2019 — Nejuum Jimmy, CCF Veterinarian; Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF Founder & Executive Director, Nuura Ahmed Somaliland Foreign Ministry; Toni Piccolotti, CCF Cheetah Keeper and Co-Project Manager; and James Young, CCF Sanctuary Designer & Co- Project Manager arrive in Hargeisa to propose a new CCF cheetah project
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CCF SOMALILAND 2019 HIGHLIGHTS
• CCF spent $285,000 in Somaliland on cheetah care, facilities and capacity building in the MoERD.
• CCF created 23 jobs for Somaliland people; 7 skilled positions and 16 construction laborers.
• CCF absorbed a tripling of cheetah care expenses in the span of six months, from $5,000 to the current
cost of $15,000 per month, while taking over from Gunther Wirth.
• CCF purchased two new Toyota 4×4 vehicles, computer laptops and cameras for the project.
• CCF facilitated donations from U.S.-based zoological NGOs of medications, supplies and equipment for the
Safe House veterinary clinic.
• CCF developed protocols for MoERD in cheetah confiscation, handling and perpetual care.
• In 2020, CCF projects it will spend approximately $560,000 on cheetah care, Somaliland capacity building
activities and the development of Geeddeeble.
• In 2020, CCF will create additional positions for Somaliland veterinarians, researchers, animal keepers,
drivers, security guards, construction workers and project managers.
Improving Facilities and Increasing Capacity for Confiscated Cheetah
Receiving approval from the government to advance its plan, CCF immediately initiated a complete remodel and upgrade of the existing Cheetah Safe House, tearing down and rebuilding cheetah enclosures to increase the size of the holding pens and adding an outdoor quarantine area, meat preparation room and outdoor kitchen. CCF also reorganized the vet clinic and created a bedroom for Nejuum Jimmy in the Safe House, our onsite animal care manager and veterinarian.
Cheetah Safe House in Hargeisa, before and after CCF’s renovations Adding shelters and quarantine area
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CCF provides food and veterinary care for intercepted cubs at the Cheetah Safe House
In June 2019, CCF’s Executive Director, Dr. Marker, toured potential sites for the permanent sanctuary recommended by Minister Shukri Ismail of MoERD. In late June, Dr. Marker returned to Somaliland with a small delegation from the U.S. and UK to celebrate State of Somaliland Independence Day. During this second trip, Dr. Marker identified sites for the interim holding facilities that will add immediate outdoor capacity, and she visited Geeddeeble, the site topping the list for CCF’s Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre.
In August 2019, CCF helped Minister Shukri transfer a confiscated lion cub to Born Free in Ethiopia, and CCF prepared a file on the death of cheetah cub, Kidi, to assist Minister Shukri in court. By September, CCF secured a lease on a plot of land near the existing facilities that is approximately 3.5 times larger than the Safe House plot. Working with the Somaliland landlord, a local construction company, and volunteers from the U.S. and UK, the perimeter wall was expanded, a house/office structure was built, and plumbing and electricity developed. The process of building large cheetah enclosures has begun. CCF estimates construction will be completed in February 2020, three months ahead of projected schedule. When ready, CCF will move older cats to the larger, outdoor enclosures of Compound 2 (“The Yard”).
Compound 2 plot is 190 meters by 36 meters and located within two blocks of the Cheetah Safe House

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View from back of The Yard looking toward main gate The quarantine area and structure near main gate
To keep pace with the responsibilities that come with managing growing numbers of animals and a major construction project, CCF added both full-time and part-time staff to the project in Q3 and Q4 2019. CCF hired an experienced veterinarian and expanded its volunteer program, taking over total management of Veterinaires Sans Frontieres program from Gunther Wirth and bringing in additional volunteers from American zoological institutions and animal welfare organizations to lend support.

During July, CCF dealt with the sudden decline and death of a cheetah cub named Kidi, who later was determined to have died from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a rare and fatal autoimmune disease that is not well understood. This disease is a problem for cheetahs, as the species lacks genetic variation and this makes them more vulnerable. In response, CCF reformulated protocols involving quarantine housing, feeding and care at the Cheetah Safe House to diminish chances for spreading.
Beginning in June 2019, CCF put current several Somaliland workers on CCF’s payroll. In September, CCF added housing for international staff and volunteers and hired a cook to provide daily meals for the entire cheetah project team. The same month, CCF completed its registration as a Somaliland NGO. In November, CCF took delivery of two new vehicles and hired a local driver.
CCF Somaliland acquired a Toyota 4×4 Hardtop and Pick-up Truck and hired a local driver for the project in November
Harmonizing Somaliland Dispute Resolution Systems
In June, Dr. Marker introduced CCF’s IWT Law Enforcement Advisor, Mr. Chris Dietrich, to Minister Shukri, to aid in capacity building along the confiscation chain and with international enforcement agencies. Chris spent time with Abdinassir Hussein, MoERD Wildlife Director conducting trainings with he and his staff, and had meeting with police in Somaliland. In November, Chris visited Somaliland a second time and traveled to the Somaliland-Ethiopia border along several points, including the Borama-Aw Barre checkpoint. Mr. Edwin Brown, CCF’s Project Manager for the DEFRA LICIT (Legal Intelligence for Cheetah Illicit Trade) program visited Somaliland in November to set the stage for a workshop (Q1) and training (Q3) to link Horn of Africa agencies involved in wildlife trade enforcement in 2020 and bolster Somaliland environment laws.
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Left and Center –CCF’s Chris Dietrich visits checkpoints along the Somaliland-Ethiopian border between Hargeisa and Borama Right – Dr. Marker travelled to the border in June, to better understand the geography of cheetah trade routes

Somaliland Stakeholders
In November, CCF held a dinner in Hargeisa for local cheetah stakeholders, inviting leaders from Somaliland government, education and business to engage on the issue of illegal trade. The goal was to establish a group that can work with and advise CCF on local issues moving forward. Members of the Somaliland Veterinarians Association, Somaliland Women’s Veterinary Association and the Dean of the Veterinary School at University of Hargeisa met with CCF staff and others representing Somaliland business, education and healthcare systems.
CCF dinner at Ambassador Hotel November 12, 2019
Education
At the same time CCF has been building facilities for cheetahs, the team has been laying foundations for education and law enforcement capacity-building activities to help Somaliland people. During her visit in late June, Dr. Marker addressed to the entire student body at Amoud University and spoke to a group studying environmental science at the University of Hargeisa. She met with Professor Suleiman Ahmed Gulaid and Dr. Mohamud Yusuf Muse to discuss CCF’s proposed wildlife education program in Somaliland. In addition to traditional classroom experiences, the planned program will incorporate internship opportunities for university students in Somaliland and at CCF’s Centre in Namibia.
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Dr. Marker met with Professor Suleiman, faculty and spoke to students at Amound University in June

International Cheetah Day
On December 4, CCF held its first local celebration of International Cheetah Day, December 4th, by co-sponsoring a public cheetah talk at the Hargeisa Cultural Centre with the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office, distributing a poster and delivering an SMS text message throughout the country. Minister Shukri of the MoERD and CCF’s Director of Conservation Outreach, Brian Badger, were the featured speakers. Local television and print media covered the event.
The first International Cheetah Day celebration in Somaliland December 4, 2019
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International Public Policy
United States
In between visits to Somaliland during Q3 and Q4 2019, Dr. Marker traveled to Johannesburg for the Southern Africa Regional IUCN Meeting; Barcelona, Spain, to deliver the Keynote Address for the Global Explorers Expo; and Geneva for CITES CoP18, where she monitored two weeks of proceedings and advocated on behalf of the cheetah. In the U.S., Dr. Marker completed a five-week speaking tour on illegal trade with engagements in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Indianapolis, Dallas, and Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Marker ended the tour with an event on Capitol Hill in Washington DC to inform U.S. lawmakers about the illegal wildlife trade threat for cheetah cubs and CCF’s partnership with Somaliland. In Washington, Yassin Meri from the U.S. Somaliland Mission spoke alongside Dr. Marker.
Yassin Meri and Dr. Laurie Marker address U.S. government policymakers on Capitol Hill October 22, 2019
United Kingdom
In the UK, CCF held an event on the 24th of September hosted by Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent to drive awareness among London-based corporations. Ayan Mahamoud, Head of UK Mission, represented the Somaliland government. Princess Michael expressed interest in visiting Somaliland in the future.
HRH Princess Michael of Kent and Ayan Mahamoud Invitation CCF UK’s Jackie and Chris Fast, Jane Galton and BBC Presenter Giles Clarke visited
Somaliland in 2019
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Laying Foundation for 2020 Somaliland Delegation Visit to Namibia
In Namibia, CCF had meetings in November and December with the Ministry of Environment & Tourism and the Speaker of the Parliament, leaders from local civil society organizations, and B2Gold Mining Company to discuss a Somaliland delegation visit in Q2 or Q3 of 2020. Tentative agenda to include site visits to one or more Namibian national parks, Walvis bay beach resort, communal conservancies, a gold mine within a conservation area, and the CCF Centre in Otjiwarongo. The delegation would also meet with Namibian government counterparts and University of Namibia and Namibia University of Science & Technology representatives in Windhoek.
Raising Awareness through Media Advocacy
In 2019, CCF continued to drive awareness for the cheetah trade threat in international media. In late June and early July, a CNN crew came to Somaliland to make two stories, one about the cheetah trade and the other about how climate change has impacted Somaliland people. The first story aired in August, 2019 and the second in December 2019. In September, CCF helped facilitate a BBC Studios producer working with BBC Presenter Giles Clarke (Big Cat Diaries) to make a documentary about the Somaliland cheetah project. Minister Shukri and DG Nuur participated in the production, representing Somaliland government. On November 9, Giles appeared on BBC Breakfast to present his report.
Left – Shukri Ismail, Minister of Environment & Rural Development for the Republic of Somaliland, gives a deskside interview to BBC Studios Right–DG Nuur, Dr. Laurie Marker and Minister Shukri are photographed for Smithsonian Magazine at Cheetah Safe House on Nov. 7, 2019
During the same visit in September, Dr. Laurie Marker gave an interview and tour of the Cheetah Safe House to visiting U.S. security expert and think-tank writer Michael Horton. In November, a journalist from Smithsonian Magazine accompanied Dr. Marker to Hargeisa. She met with Minister Shukri and DG Nuur and photographed everyone for a feature story on the cheetah trade. A follow-up visit in early 2020 by the same journalist to create additional imagery will take place before publication in late 2020. CCF also generated significant international stories in The Times; The National; Le Monde; France 24; France 2 and local Somaliland media stories connected to the International Cheetah Day.
CCF Collaborations with NGOs
In June 2019, CCF met with the Turkish consul and the TIKA team based in the Horn. CCF also met Stuart Brown of the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office and senior leadership from Axiom International. The UK organizations agreed to collaborate with CCF and support the Somaliland cheetah project.
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In July, CCF traveled at its own expense to meet with Minister Shukri and representatives from organizations interested in translocating Somaliland cheetahs to South Africa. Dr. Marker and CCF’s Chief Cheetah Curator in Namibia, Eli Walker, toured facilities at Ashia Cheetah Conservation and Kuzuko Game Reserve & Lodge, where they had a series of discussions regarding the Somaliland cheetahs in South Africa.
Cheetah Care in Somaliland
In September and November, CCF collaborated with veterinarians representing the South African organizations to perform comprehensive health examinations, administer vaccines, and establish common management protocols. Dr. Laurie Marker travelled to Somaliland both times to facilitate and assist with the work. In September, international veterinarians were invited by CCF to assist, Dr. Margarita Woc Colburn from the Nashville Zoo, one of the United States’ top cheetah specialists; Dr. Frank Sedden from the UK; and Dr. Lucia Bel from the Czech Republic. CCF veterinarians Nejuum Jimmy and Mussa Saed Jama assisted with the workups. In November, CCF’s newly hired veterinarian, Dr. Karina Pineda Flores, contributed to the efforts, working with the South African vets and the CCF Somaliland team to vaccinate cubs.
From September 2019 –
Left – MoERD’s Minister Shukri Ismail and Wildlife Director Abdinassir Hussein greet the Cheetah Project Team at Hargeisa Airport Center — Dr. Lucia Bel and Dr. Margarita Woc Colburn perform a health examination on a young cub
Right – Dr. Woc Colburn, Dr. Laurie Marker and Neju Jimmy weigh a cub at the Cheetah Safe House
From November 2019 –
Left — Dr. Peter Caldwell from Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic in South Africa works with the CCF Somaliland veterinary Center – Dr. Karina Pineda Flores and Dr. Mussa Saed Jama enter data on a cub’s health chart
Right – Cubs receive vaccinations from the vet team at the Cheetah Safe House Clinic
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Development of CCF Cheetah Rescue & Conservation Centre (CRCC)
In September, CCF approached African Parks Foundation (APF) to propose collaboration on the development of Somaliland’s first national park and a permanent cheetah sanctuary in Somaliland. In December, CCF met with AFP leadership in The Netherlands, and Minister Shukri agreed to receive APF and CCF in Hargeisa for meetings and site visits. Dates were set for the first week of February 2020.
CCF CHEETAH PROJECT TIMELINE
Phase One: create an interim holding facility for cheetah in a natural, outdoor environment while design and build of the permanent sanctuary takes place (12-18 months). Outreach efforts in schools and universities begins; trainings for law enforcement begin in the field.
Phase Two: Construct a permanent sanctuary for cheetah within 30 kms of Hargeisa (18-24 months). Education outreach continues; field trainings begins.
Phase Three: Once complete, the CRCC will be open to the public several days each week for tours, educational programs and on-site trainings. (24 months and beyond).
Onward: The CRCC will continue be developed over the years to perform multiple functions and to serve as a model project for deploying creative conservation strategies in Somaliland.
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Phase3 Launch; Public Opening
Next Steps for Development of CRCC in 2020:
1. Coordinate surveying, mapping and demarcation (MoERD, CCF – beginning in January)
2. Conduct site visit to determine where CRCC will sit and begin making designs (MoERD, CCF – January)
3. Meet with MoERD, CCF and African Parks Foundation and conduct site visit; discuss resettled farmers,
access roads, signage, water, electricity (MoERD, CCF, AP – February)
4. Formalize agreement for land on which CRCC will be built at Geeddeeble National Park (CCF and MoERD –
February)
5. Secure plans and materials for construction Geeddeeble (CCF, Feb – Nov)
6. Break ground on construction of Geeddeeble – (CCF – November)
###

Riceviamo una splendida lettera di LAURIE MARKER !

Cari Amici buon Anno nuovo!

Abbiamo avuto stamattina il piacere di leggere una mail indirizzata a tutti noi che vi rimandiamo senza commenti. A breve ve la proporremo tradotta.

Gli impegni di fine anno, contabilità e altro, ci hanno messi un po’ alle strette….ma c’è la faremo.

A voi tutti un caloroso GRAZIE per il vostro prezioso aiuto.

Betty von Hoenning

Laurie scrive:

Happy new year to all! I wanted to share some exciting news about our project in Somaliland. 

Construction has been progressing so rapidly, we are near completion of our second interim holding facility in Hargeisa. We are preparing to move cheetahs into Compound 2 – “The Yard” –  during February.

On Monday, former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz visited the CCF Cheetah Safe House. CCF Project Co-Manager and Designer James Young and Minister Shukri Ismail of the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development led Ambassador Schwartz on a tour of CCF’s facilities. 

James Young, Minister Shukri Ismail and former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz (foto)

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, toured the Cheetah Safe House with a large group from the UN and Somaliland government.

Both VIP visitors from the U.S. were impressed with the project, and James Swan mentioned CCF by name in an address to media (https://tinyurl.com/w3ar9fe). Both also pledged their support to our effort, calling it integral to Somaliland’s development and stabilization. We are now in communication about how they can help us moving forward. 

Our 2019 CCF Somaliland Year-End Report is attached. This document details the amazing progress over the past six months. Cheetahs in East Africa and the Horn of Africa now have hope for survival. None of this would be possible without you.

CCF’s 30th anniversary in 2020 — our diamond anniversary — promises to be a real gem for cheetahs! 

My most sincere appreciation to all who helped advance this project. 

Warm regards,

Laurie

—

Laurie Marker, DPhil

Founder/Executive Director, Cheetah Conservation Fund

P.O. Box 1755 – Otjiwarongo, Namibia

Phone: +264 (0)67 306225, Fax: +264 (0)67 306247

www.cheetah.org

Opere artistiche…di Pietro di Cristofaro