A brief insight into the work of CCF, including our research efforts, population monitoring techniques and community engagement for mitigating human-wildlife conflict.

1. ECOLOGY RESEARCH AND IMPACTS – HIGHLIGHTS
Source: Cheetah Conservation Fund Namibia

2. FROMRESEARCHTOIMPACT
A FOUNDATION OF ECOLOGY RESEARCH
To protect the cheetah in the wild, conservation programmes need to be rooted in science and sound research.
Translating knowledge into effective strategy is key to CCF’s work in ecology. Key areas include:
• Recording carnivore density, group size, home range requirements and migratory behaviours
• Identifying vegetation and monitoring growth patterns within study areas
• Identifying target areas for ecological management
• Conducting prey base studies that monitor habitat use by game species
• Collating historical data regarding predation
• Investigating how bush encroachment affects biodiversity
• Developing methodologies for the reintroduction of prey species
• Encouraging standardised prey studies in other cheetah-range countries
Baselines are derived and they form the basis to evaluate the impact of conservation programmes
FUNDAMENTALS
The cheetah’s survival depends on the total ecological
system, including farmland management, prey species
management and habitat stability
Education, supported by in-field demonstration, allows
attitudes to change and new methods to be adopted
Demonstrate by example the benefits and viability of
methods and techniques – e.g. model farm, biomass
demonstration, Dancing Goat Dairy, tourist revenues from
cheetah conservation
IMPACTS
Namibian farmers moving from preventative management
(eliminating the cheetah indiscriminately, independent of
livestock loss) to non-lethal predator control methods (80%+
reduction in predation)
Better livestock management, land management and wildlife
management
Bush encroachment turned into an economic opportunity
with the demonstration/creation of a biomass industry and
resulting in habitat restoration and job creation. An attitude
shift from seeing the cheetah as vermin to being a national
treasure – representing ecotourism revenues

3. BASELINETOASSESSCONSERVATIONEFFORTS
MONITORING WILDLIFE
Focus on Carnivores:
• Camera trapping to estimate carnivore populations and distribution
• On CCF land, constant monitoring through cameras deployed at:
• Waterholes (~10)
• Cheetah play trees (~5)
• In the Greater Waterberg Landscape, 4 survey areas monitored continuously for 30 days (wet and dry season
sampling sessions)
• Carnivore tracker app created
Wildlife Populations:
• Using game count to follow population trends
• Strip counts:
• monthly on restricted area
• seasonably (3 times a year) across CCF land
• Waterhole counts (12h):
• Bi-monthly at 4 waterholes
• Annually at ~20 waterholes
FUNDAMENTALS
Balance of species throughout the food web is critical and
the engagement of stakeholders in implementing mitigation
programmes
Internships and education allows Namibians and
international students to share knowledge and take on
stewardship
Demonstration of ecosystems benefits to people’s
livelihoods allows for regional ownership
IMPACTS
Restoring biodiversity to balanced levels
Reduces conflict between farmers and cheetahs
Restore and maintain habitat

4. 25 YEARS OF REGULAR WATERHOLE COUNTS BY CCF NAMIBIA
POPULATIONMONITORING

5. COMMUNITYSOLUTIONS
IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT HOTSPOTS
Working with Communities:
• Farmer training workshops: livestock management,
health, kill identification + mitigation measures
• Human-Wildlife Conflict surveys: based on
questionnaires + response
FUNDAMENTALS
Record community experience with wildlife and
predators
Assess real vs perceived threats and causes
Train and support facilitators from local
communities to deliver workshop and respond to
farmers’ challenges
IMPACTS
More productive farms through better livestock and
land management
Use of non-lethal wildlife solutions to conflicts
Opportunity to expand sources of revenues e.g.
artisans work, dairy products, thorn bush harvesting

6. www.cheetah.org.uk
The Cheetah Conservation Fund UK (CCF UK) is the UK affiliate of CCF, a
global leader in the research and conservation of the cheetah, with HQs in
Namibia. CCF runs award-winning programmes in education, conservation
and habitat restoration and is dedicated to protecting the cheetah in the
wild. CCF UK supports CCF by raising awareness of the plight of the cheetah
and funds to support the work of CCF in Namibia and throughout Africa.