Cheetah Expert Dr. Laurie Marker and Cheetah at “Piper & Heath for Cheetahs” Benefit May 10th at the Bratspis Residence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Liz Georges, Communications Coordinator, liz@cheetah.org

Cheetah Expert Dr. Laurie Marker and Cheetah at “Piper & Heath for Cheetahs” Benefit May 10th at the Bratspis Residence

April 12, 2013 (Alexandria, VA) — San Diego area residents will have a unique opportunity to meet the leading expert on cheetahs, and an actual “ambassador cheetah” on Friday, May 10, 2013. Chris Liebenberg and the Southern California chapter of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) host “Piper & Heath for Cheetahs,” a benefit event that will feature a presentation by CCF’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Marker, and an appearance by Karoo, a cheetah appearing as an educational ambassador animal courtesy of the San Diego Zoo.

The event will be held from 6:00-9:30pm at the Bratspis Residence, 739 Golden Park Avenue, San Diego, CA. Tickets are $125 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit CCF, and $95 of the purchase price will be tax-deductible. Tickets are available through the CCF website at www.cheetah.org

CCF’s conservation operations are headquartered in Namibia, which has the largest portion of the world’s 10,000 remaining cheetahs. CCF’s programs include its celebrated Livestock Guarding Dog Programme, which reduces human-animal conflict by providing local farmers with Anatolian shepherd and Kangal dogs as an alternative way to protect their livestock and livelihood from predation. Dr. Marker is the 2008 recipient of the first Zoological Society of San Diego’s Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition for her lasting contribution to conservation during her career. With this award, Dr. Marker joined the ranks of the Society’s Conservation Medal recipients that include Jane Goodall, Gilbert M. Grosvenor, H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, Sir David Attenborough, and E. O. Wilson Ph.D. CCF maintains an active chapter in the San Diego area, with many members having served as volunteers at CCF’s facility in Namibia.

Dr. Marker will be available for in-person appearances and interviews May 10. Phone interviews may be arranged on other dates. Please contact CCF Communications Coordinator, Liz Georges at liz@cheetah.org to schedule an interview.

Dr. Laurie Marker is an American scientist, widely recognized as the leading expert on the cheetah. She moved to Namibia to found Cheetah Conservation Fund over 20 years ago. She is a recipient of the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, the Tech Museum’s Intel Environmental Prize, and a two-time finalist for the Indianapolis Prize. She was named a Hero for the Planet by Time magazine, has been featured in Smithsonian magazine, and on numerous television shows, including The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and the Today Show.

Founded in Namibia (Africa) in 1990, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the global leader in research and conservation of cheetahs. CCF is dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild. CCF’s conservation strategy has contributed to increasing the wild cheetah population in Namibia by ~50%. CCF’s long-term studies analyze and monitor the factors affecting the cheetah’s survival in the wild, and results are used to develop conservation policies and education programs that have reached over 300,000 people. CCF is a registered non-profit in Namibia, Canada, UK and the US, where it is listed as a “Four Star Charity” by Charity Navigator, which recognizes sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. People can learn more about CCF or make a donation to the organization by visiting www.cheetah.org.