IWT is an organised crime that involves theft of community resources, damaging community ecosystems and livelihoods. Cheetahs are a highly threatened species, especially in the SRS. Here, there are less than 500 adult cheetahs and at least 300 cubs a year are snatched from the wild for sale as pets in the Middle East - commanding up to $10,000. Most cubs die from abuse, trauma, or malnutrition during transit, perpetuating the problem – as does extreme poverty, conflict, and climate change.

CCF believe protecting cheetahs and all wildlife means helping the people who share the landscape. CCF has pioneered many successful, conservation programs in Namibia based on this principle. These will act as a blueprint for initiatives in the SRS. In this project, CCF will conduct community outreach to gather intelligence on cheetah trafficking in the SRS, to understand and tackle the fundamental causes, and build local networks to support the delivery of ongoing education initiatives.