New Documentary Showcases the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Efforts to Save Africa’s Cheetahs

[Luxor, Egypt / November 26, 2024] – International Cheetah Day, observed globally on December 4th, will mark the premiere of Return of the Cheetah, a new Discovery Channel documentary that sheds light on the critical efforts to save cheetahs in the wild. The film follows renowned biologist and conservationist Hazen Audel as he travels to Namibia, home to the world’s largest cheetah population, to meet Dr. Laurie Marker and her team at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).

Airing throughout Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, the documentary premieres on Discovery Channel on December 4th, with additional broadcasts and streaming availability to be announced. Return of the Cheetah showcases the innovative and integrated conservation strategies employed by CCF, highlighting their fight against habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the illegal wildlife trade. The film features powerful moments, including the rehabilitation and release of a wild cheetah – an experience that embodies CCF’s mission of ensuring a future for these iconic predators.

“This documentary is a celebration of the progress we’ve made, but also a reminder of the urgent work still ahead,” said Dr. Marker. “Seeing Hazen experience the release of a cheetah into the wild reflects the hope and possibility that drives our mission every day.”

Cheetahs: Resilience Through the Ages

Dr. Laurie Marker is currently in Egypt to commemorate International Cheetah Day, visiting iconic sites like Luxor’s Valley of the Kings to reflect on the species’ historic ties to the region. Cheetahs are no strangers to resilience. The species nearly went extinct during a natural climate shift at the end of the last Ice Age, but their population recovered and was stable by the time of the pharaohs.

In Ancient Egypt, cheetahs were revered as symbols of speed and royalty and were even kept as hunting companions. However, their popularity came at a cost. Their difficulty breeding in captivity, coupled with overexploitation as exotic pets and hunting animals, caused regional extinction across much of their historic range, including the Middle East, North Africa, and India.

“We’ve been loving this species to death for millennia,” said Dr. Marker. “We need to shift our mindset to loving cheetahs by protecting them in the wild.”

In modern times, cheetahs have faced mounting pressure across their remaining African range due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the illegal wildlife trade. Drawing inspiration from the pharaohs’ reverence for the cheetah, Dr. Marker advocates for a different legacy: leaving these magnificent animals in the wild and ensuring their habitats remain vibrant places where cheetahs can thrive.

A Global Call to Action

The release of Return of the Cheetah underscores the critical role apex predators play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Dr. Marker emphasizes the cascading benefits of cheetah conservation: “Protecting cheetahs safeguards biodiversity, strengthens rangelands, and promotes sustainable human development. International Cheetah Day is not just a celebration of cheetahs but a call to the world to join us in this fight.”

International Cheetah Day was established in memory of Khayam, a cheetah Dr. Marker raised in the 1970s while conducting pioneering research into rewilding captive-born cheetahs. CCF’s work has since expanded globally, addressing threats ranging from habitat degradation to climate change.

For more information on International Cheetah Day events and resources, visit www.internationalcheetahday.com, where you can use the event listing tool to find local celebrations like the Chillin’ for Cheetahs Polar Plunge below. Zoos, schools, and community centers worldwide will celebrate the cheetah with CCF at events spanning the week of Dec 4th.

Chillin’ for Cheetahs Polar Plunge
In the lead-up to International Cheetah Day, the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s New York Chapter will host a thrilling Chillin’ for Cheetahs Polar Plunge event:

When: December 8, 2024, at 1 PM
Where: Coney Island, New York, NY
What: A polar plunge with the legendary Coney Island Polar Bears to raise funds for CCF. Open to the public, this fun-filled event invites participants to take an icy dip while supporting cheetah conservation. Donations and public support are encouraged.

For more information, visit the event listing: https://internationalcheetahday.com/events/

Captions: Above photo: Dr Laurie Marker – Founder and Executive Director of CCF at a premier event for Return of the Cheetah at Jetour headquarters in China. Below: Panel discussion with CCF’s Drs. Marker and Brewer with Hazen Audel and representatives from Discovery Channel and Jetour. Bottom: left and right: Discovery documentary premier event at Jetour Headquarters.

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About International Cheetah Day
International Cheetah Day is observed each year on December 4th to raise awareness about the plight of the cheetah, the fastest land mammal on Earth. Established by Dr. Laurie Marker in honor of Khayam, a cheetah she raised and worked with in groundbreaking rewilding research, the day serves as a call to action for cheetah conservation efforts globally. From school programs to zoo events, the day unites people across the world in the fight to protect cheetahs and their habitats.

Visit www.internationalcheetahday.com to explore educational resources, learn how to get involved, and find local events near you using the event listing tool.

About the Cheetah Conservation Fund
The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the global leader in cheetah research and conservation. Dedicated to ensuring the survival of cheetahs in the wild, CCF employs integrated conservation programs that address habitat restoration, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and community education. Founded in 1990 by Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF is headquartered in Namibia with a field base in Somaliland.

Signature programs include the Livestock Guarding Dog Program, which places specialized dogs with farmers to protect livestock from predators, and habitat restoration initiatives that have transformed thousands of acres of farmland into thriving ecosystems.

Visit www.cheetah.org to learn more about CCF’s work and how you can help protect cheetahs in the wild.

About Dr. Laurie Marker
Dr. Laurie Marker is the Founder and Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which she established in 1990 to save cheetahs from extinction. Her career with cheetahs began at Wildlife Safari in the United States, where she developed one of the most successful captive-breeding programs for the species. In 1977, she traveled to Namibia (then South West Africa) to conduct groundbreaking research on rewilding captive-born cheetahs.

During this trip, Dr. Marker discovered that livestock farmers were killing wild cheetahs in large numbers, putting the species at risk. Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, she decided to move to Namibia and dedicate her life to cheetah conservation. “We always think there is someone else who will do something, that ‘they’ will take care of it. I realized early in my work that there is no ‘they,’ and so I decided that I would take action to save the cheetah from extinction,” said Dr. Marker. Today, she is a global leader in cheetah research, community-based conservation, and habitat restoration, and she continues to inspire others to join the fight to save this iconic species.

Media Contacts: Elissa Buchter, elissa@schmoozepr.com +13109634808, Dr. Laurie Marker, director@cheetah.org +264811247887 or Teresia Robitschko, teresia@cheetah.org, Phone +264814564965, and WhatsApp +49178272234