Dr. Laurie Marker, Cheetah Conservation Fund
Before becoming Executive Director of Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1990, Dr. Laurie Marker began her career working with cheetahs at Wildlife Safari, a wildlife park in the United States. She first traveled to South West Africa (now Namibia) while conducting research into the rewilding of captive-born cheetahs.
Dr. Marker’s research proved that cheetahs held in captivity could be taught to hunt but, more importantly, it was during this time she discovered livestock farmers were killing wild cheetah by the hundreds. Without intervention, the future of the species would be in jeopardy. For this reason, Dr. Marker decided to found CCF and move to Namibia.
Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, discusses the basics of cheetah conservation and her journey into studying and protecting cheetahs. She explains that cheetahs have a short lifespan and low genetic diversity, making them vulnerable to extinction. Dr. Marker also talks about the challenges of conserving cheetahs living outside protected areas and the importance of working with farmers to reduce human-wildlife conflict. She highlights the role of livestock guarding dogs in protecting livestock and preventing cheetah killings. Additionally, Dr. Marker explains the physiological adaptations of cheetahs that enable them to be the fastest land animals and their hunting behavior. She also discusses the cognitive abilities of cheetahs and their large home ranges. Dr. Marker discusses the health challenges faced by cheetahs, including diseases like herpes virus, calicivirus, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). She explains that cheetahs lack genetic diversity due to a historic small population, which has led to a reduced immune system. However, there is now a cure for FIP which has saved seven cheetahs. Dr. Marker also discusses the illegal wildlife pet trade, where cheetah cubs are stolen from the wild and sold as pets in the Middle East. She emphasizes the need to stop the trade and the demand for cheetah cubs. Additionally, Dr. Marker talks about the rehabilitation program at Cheetah Conservation Fund, where cheetahs are raised and rewilded to be released back into the wild. She mentions the success of reintroducing cheetahs in India, where they had gone extinct. Dr. Marker highlights the importance of conservation and the need for funding to save the cheetahs from extinction.
Takeaways
Cheetahs have a short lifespan and low genetic diversity, making them vulnerable to extinction.
Conserving cheetahs living outside protected areas requires working with farmers to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Livestock guarding dogs play a crucial role in protecting livestock and preventing cheetah killings.
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals and have physiological adaptations that enable their speed, such as semi-non-retractable claws and aerodynamic bodies.
Cheetahs hunt small to medium-sized antelopes and use their speed and agility to catch their prey.
Cheetahs have large home ranges and navigate their environment through scent marking and learning from their mothers.
Cheetahs are more shy and prone to stress, and providing them with companionship and exercise helps reduce stress levels. Cheetahs face health challenges such as herpes virus, calicivirus, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) due to their reduced immune system caused by a lack of genetic diversity.
There is now a cure for FIP called Cheetah 44, which has saved seven cheetahs.
The illegal wildlife pet trade is a major threat to cheetahs, with cubs being stolen from the wild and sold as pets in the Middle East.
Cheetah Conservation Fund has a rehabilitation program where cheetahs are raised and rewilded to be released back into the wild.
Reintroduction efforts have been successful, with cheetahs being reintroduced in India after going extinct in the 1950s.
Conservation efforts and funding are crucial to saving the cheetahs from extinction.
Listen to full episode :