Eleven Cheetah Cubs Rescued from Illegal Wildlife Trade in Somaliland

On Sunday, September 28th, 2025, authorities in Somaliland carried out a major rescue operation, intercepting 11 cheetah cubs that were being illegally transported by boat. The cubs, which were packed in bags resembling sacks of potatoes, were being smuggled off the Somaliland coast near the port city of Berbera.

During the rescue, two local Somaliland residents and three Yemeni nationals were arrested. The cheetahs were then taken to a rescue center operated by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Sadly, one of the cubs died just hours after arriving at the center, and another passed away the following day. Two more remain in critical condition, while the remaining seven are responding to treatment.

Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, is a major transit hub for the illegal wildlife trade. Hundreds of cheetahs and leopards from the Horn of Africa have been transported through the Gulf of Aden to Gulf countries in recent years. Conservationists warn that this illicit trade is driving cheetahs towards extinction, with fewer than 7,000 individuals left in the wild.

"Cheetahs are not pets. They are wild animals, top predators and play an important role in the ecosystem," said Laurie Marker, the founder of the CCF. "Wildlife belongs in the wild. Please help us stop the illegal wildlife pet trade in cheetahs and other wildlife species being illegally traded around the world."