Research Results
The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), in partnership with Earthwatch scientist and volunteers, has successfully rewilded and released five male cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) into the NamibRand Nature Reserve - an area that had not seen cheetahs in decades. These cheetahs had been in captivity since they were adolescents, but in an area large enough to allow them to hunt. Later three female cheetahs were released, and one has since given birth to cubs fathered by one of the released male cheetahs.
In 2008 and 2009, CCF hosted 78 wildlife managers and conservation biologists from 15 cheetah range countries, including Iran and India, to learn about CCF's methods for reintroducing cheetahs into the wild.
An assessment of CCF's economic impact, prepared by economists at the Bureau of Business Research (www.bbr.unl.edu) at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), examined economic data available for 2007 and found that CCF's on-site spending in support of research, conservation, and education, coupled with off-site spending throughout Namibia by visitors and volunteers coming to CCF, translated into N$29.1 million and 166 jobs. This result reflects the key role that research, conservation and education can play in generating positive economic impacts for Namibia.
Crosier A.E., Marker L., Howard J., Pukazhenthi B.S., Henghali J.N., Wildt D.E. (2007) Ejaculate traits in the Namibian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): influence of age, season and captivity. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 19 (2):370-82
Crosier, Adrienne E., Laurie Marker, JoGayle Howard, Budhan S. Pukazhenthi, Josephine N. Henghali, David E. Wildt (2007) Ejaculate traits in the Namibian cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ): influence of age, season and captivity. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19:2, 370
Jackson, Tim (2009) Namibia's Cheetahs. Africa Geographic Magazine.
Marker, L. and Sivamani, S. (2009) Policy for Human-Leopard Conflict Management in India. Cat News Newsletter, 50