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Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) was formed
to help protect the remaining population of endangered
cheetahs in Botswana, one of the last strongholds
for cheetahs in the world. And with the spirit
of collaboration and community participation,
CCB has also created an opportunity to join the
effort to protect cheetahs in all of Southern
Africa, helping to create trans-border management
strategies and managing the southern population
as a whole. The first step, led by conservationist
Rebecca Klein, is to learn more about the Botswana
cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and how to protect
this very fast, very rare cat.
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As in other parts of Africa, the majority of
Botswana's cheetahs live on commercial farmland,
instead of the protected reserves where competition
with lions and other large predators keep their
numbers low. Farmers trap and kill cheetahs who
threaten their livestock. The cheetahs may not
be interested in their livestock, but as a daytime
hunter, they are much more readily spotted on
the farmland. Despite the fact that cheetahs are
endangered, many are still being killed, and the
struggle to find a common ground for humans and
cheetahs is ongoing.
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By collaborating with other cheetah conservation
organizations and individuals, CCB has learned
which methods are most effective and how to bridge
the gap between the interests of the cheetah and
humans. Rebecca Klein and the CCB staff spent
time at Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia and
gained invaluable experience in the various aspects
of a successful cheetah conservation program.
CCB is based at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve
near Gabarone, Botswana. A staff of 70 people,
most from the surrounding villages, engage in
conservation, habitat preservation, research,
environmental education for local people and visitors,
and sustainable use of wildlife and other natural
resources.
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Mokolodi also serves as a safe haven for "problem"
cheetahs that have been trapped by farmers, to
be released later into suitable habitats and monitored
to learn more about their behavior and habits.
By working together with local and international
organizations and individuals, CCB serves as a
model for other entrepreneurial conservation projects.
With the help of CCB, the cheetah in Botswana
has a chance for survival.
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