New Partnership Keeps CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dogs Well-Fed for Years to Come

The day before Christmas, a special delivery arrived at CCF’s International Research and Education Centre in Namibia: eight tons of dog food for the Livestock Guarding Dogs that are at the heart of CCF’s frontline conservation efforts.

The food was provided through a new partnership with Almo Nature, an Italian pet food company that was entirely and irreversibly donated to the Fondazione Capellino in 2018. Through this unique ‘Reintegration Economy’ model, all of Almo Nature’s profits support biodiversity conservation and animal welfare.

As part of the collaboration, Almo Nature is donating enough kibble to feed 20 resident Livestock Guarding Dogs at CCF’s Centre for the next three years, providing 21 tonnes of food and more than 7,200 meals every year. These resident dogs are the backbone of CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog program, training alongside farmers as part of CCF’s Model Farm in Namibia.

Using powerful breeds known for their guarding instincts and ability to bond with livestock herds, primarily Anatolian shepherds and Kangals, the program trains and places canine guardians with farmers. These dogs prevent livestock losses by deterring cheetahs and other wild predators, giving farmers a non-lethal method of predator control. By preventing livestock predation, these dogs directly save wild cheetahs by eliminating the economic motivation for farmers to trap, shoot, or poison predators in retaliation. When Livestock Guarding Dogs are introduced, livestock losses drop by 80 to 100%, according to research conducted in Namibia.

Every dog placement is also tied to mandatory training for participating farmers, and CCF conducts extensive follow-up visits to monitor the health and performance of dogs after placement. Since launching in 1994, the programme has placed more than 800 dogs on farms across Namibia and other parts of Africa.

We’re very grateful for this generous donation. The dog food arrived safely, and it’s been a big hit with the dogs. Support like this helps us keep the program running smoothly on the ground, and we truly appreciate the continued partnership.

Visit Almo Nature to read more about their partnership with CCF https://fondazionecapellino.org/en/cheetah-conservation

Follow Almo Nature on social media:

Fondazione Capellino LinkedIn: https://it.linkedin.com/company/fondazione-capellino

Almo Nature Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlmoNatureGlobal/

Almo Nature Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almonatureofficial/?hl=it

Almo Nature LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/almo-nature-benefit/