Cheetah Conservation Fund Expands Conservation Education in the Horn of Africa with New Training Complex

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cheetah Conservation Fund Expands Conservation Education in the Horn of Africa with New Training Complex

18, December 2025 – Hargeisa, Somaliland, The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), the world’s leading organization dedicated to saving cheetahs in the wild, proudly announces the opening of its Cheetah Education and Training Centre Complex at its Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre (CRCC) campus in Somaliland, in the Horn of Africa. The new complex marks a significant milestone in regional conservation and international collaboration, made possible with support from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) of Saudi Arabia.

The new Education Complex was toured and opened by the Somaliland Minister of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), Mr. Abdillahi Osman Jama, along with the Minister of Trade and Tourism, Mr. Abdirahman Hassan Nur Furre, Prof. Ismail Yusuf Duale Guled, Minister of Education, Training and Science, and Mr. Mohamud Cige Yusuf, Minister of Agriculture Development, other government officials, representatives from the offices of the United Kingdom and Taiwan, and several partner NGOs. Nearly 100 guests joined Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of CCF, and Mr. Chirs Wade, CCF’s Country Manager, for a tour of the education complex.

The new Education and Training Complex, supported by the Royal Commission for AlUla, has been under construction for the past year and its opening was a welcome event, also celebrating International Cheetah Day. “Education, training and awareness are critical for helping save the cheetah for the future” states Dr. Marker. “We have been working on the ground in this region, with the governments and communities for nearly 10 years, to stop the illegal wildlife pet trade. The Education Complex will allow us to work closer with these partners to help stop the illegal wild cheetah cub pet trade, and to develop conservation and environmental awareness that will allow the country to see wildlife as a valuable part of the environment. CCF appreciates the support from the Royal Commission of AlUla for sponsoring the Education and Training Centre that will help train conservationists from throughout the Horn of Africa.”

Jose Ferreira, Conservation Breeding & Reintroduction Director from the Royal Commission for AlUla. states, “The Royal Commission for AlUla is a proud sponsor of the Cheetah Conservation Fund and we join them in celebrating International Cheetah Day and the Cheetah Education & Training Complex’s completion. The sensitively designed centre will support human wildlife coexistence with wide reaching benefits for the conservation of this incredible but Vulnerable species.”

The state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot facility will serve as a hub for education and professional training in conservation, offering immersive programs for rangers, farmers, teachers, youth, and land and wildlife managers from Somaliland and across the Horn of Africa. Designed to accommodate up to 45 students at a time with separate men’s and women’s dormitories, the complex features welcome center, indoor and outdoor classrooms, office and meeting rooms, and a kitchen with a dining area, all surrounding a common courtyard. The buildings are situated adjacent to the Somaliland Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre within a reserve about an hour’s drive from Hargeisa. Surrounded by semi-arid plains, the design features expansive views and emphasizes shelter from the harsh sun, strong winds, and seasonal torrential downpours.

The buildings were designed by SDI Architecture in collaboration with Detour Habitats. To design the Centre, CCF partnered with Prasanna Lachagari, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Design Director at Detour Habitats and Founding Partner of SDI Architecture. The team responded to the environmental challenges of Somaliland—including intense heat and hurricane-force winds—by designing sustainable, climate-resilient structures with passive cooling systems and low environmental impact.”This Centre is more than a building – it’s a platform for possibility,” said Lachagari. “We wanted to create a space that reflects the dignity of the mission, respects local culture, and inspires the next generation of conservation leaders.”

“By opening this Education and Training Complex, we are creating the foundation for a future where people and wildlife can coexist,” said Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of CCF. “This Centre allows us to transfer our successful Namibian conservation model to Somaliland, providing critical training in areas like wildlife protection, land restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. Education is the cornerstone of effective conservation. Our collective efforts are crucial for cheetah survival. We are so proud to have such dedicated partners in cheetah conservation from around the world”

Founded by Dr. Marker in 1990, CCF’s first Cheetah Research and Education Centre was established in Namibia on a 156,000-acre reserve, where it pioneered habitat restoration, developed livelihood programs, and works with the country’s acclaimed Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) initiative. Today, Namibia is home to over 85 community conservancies and is recognized globally for their success in conservation-led development.

In 2016, CCF expanded its operations to Somaliland to care for cheetahs rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade. The new Education and Training Centre expands CCF’s work from crisis response to proactive community engagement and long-term sustainability.

Cheetahs are Africa’s most endangered big cat due to the lack of understanding of how they live and how we can learn to live with them. Both of CCF’s International Centre’s Namibia and Somaliland, play very important roles in the helping save the cheetah for future generations.

Notes to the Editor

About the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) – Founded in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the world’s longest-running and most successful cheetah conservation organization. CCF’s mission is to save the cheetah in the wild and ensure its future through science, education, habitat restoration, and community development.
Website: https://cheetah.org/

About the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is a Saudi government initiative tasked with the protection and development of AlUla, a heritage and nature-rich region in northwestern Saudi Arabia. RCU promotes sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and local empowerment.
Website: https://www.rcu.gov.sa/

About Detour Habitats – Detour Habitats is a mission-driven nonprofit design organization that works with underserved communities to co-create culturally grounded, sustainable architectural solutions that improve lives and foster resilience.
Website: https://detourhabitats.org/

About SDI Architecture – SDI Architecture is an award-winning architecture and design firm known for its environmentally conscious, community-driven, and culturally respectful approach to the built environment.
Website: https://www.sdi.archi/

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Media Contact: Elissa Buchter, [email protected], Phone & WhatsApp +13109634808, or

Teresia Robitschko, [email protected], Phone +264814564965, WhatsApp +49178272234, or

Dr. Laurie Marker, [email protected], Phone & WhatsApp +264811247887