Ten cheetah cubs destined for international wildlife markets have been rescued in Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia, in a major operation against the illegal trade of endangered species.
The cubs, held in captivity since birth, were found undernourished and limping from months of being tied up. They are now in stable condition under the care of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).
Laurie Marker, founder of CCF, described the condition of a five-month-old cub as “very malnourished, with sores all over her body and full of botfly maggots under the skin.” She added that the recovery process is delicate: “We have to start them on food slowly due to re-feeding syndrome, similar to people in starvation.”
Two individuals in possession of the cubs were arrested during the mid-August operation in Sallahley District, northern Somaliland.
According to Environment Ministry Director Abdinasir Hussein Said, the rescued cubs have joined 109 others saved in similar operations. He urged the public to help protect wildlife in their natural habitats, warning that the illegal capture of cubs also threatens the lives of their mothers, often left stressed and vulnerable.
Somaliland has become a key transit hub for wildlife trafficking, with hundreds of cheetahs and leopards smuggled from the Horn of Africa to Gulf countries via the Gulf of Aden. Conservationists warn that the rising demand for exotic pets in the Gulf is fueling the illegal trade, placing already fragile ecosystems at greater risk.
Authorities in Somaliland continue to stress that possession of wildlife is illegal and say police will intensify crackdowns on traffickers to safeguard biodiversity in the region.
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