Dr. Laurie Marker and Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Featured on Litton’s Weekend Adventure on November 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Meg LaVigne, President of Television, Litton Entertainment, mlavigne@litton.tv, (617) 340-4155

Dr. Laurie Marker and Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Featured on Litton’s Weekend Adventure on November 10

OCTOBER 29, 2012 (Alexandria, VA) — On Saturday, November 10th, Dr. Laurie Marker and Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) will be featured on “Born to Explore with Richard Wiese,” one of six educational and informational programs on Litton’s Weekend Adventure airing each weekend on ABC stations across the country. “Born to Explore” is hosted by noted explorer, Richard Wiese, and travels the globe to educate viewers about our world’s vast natural and human treasures.

The thirty-minute episode of “Born to Explore with Richard Wiese” was filmed on location in Namibia, Africa at CCF’s Field Research and Education Center. The program will highlight both the magnificence of the cheetah and Dr. Laurie Marker’s race to save the species from extinction. There are currently only about 10,000 cheetahs remaining in the wild, and is Africa’s most endangered and most vulnerable of the big cats. Experts estimate the cheetah could be extinct in less than 20 years without concerted conservation efforts.

“Each week, Litton’s Weekend Adventure opens up the world to our viewers. Creating awareness about preservation efforts to save the cheetah from extinction is at the core of our service to viewers across this country and around the world,” commented Dave Morgan, CEO of Litton Entertainment. Viewers may check local listings for airtimes.

“Born to Explore” is hosted by noted explorer, Richard Wiese, who travels the globe to educate viewers about our world’s vast natural and human treasures.

“Not many people are willing to put everything on the line for a cause, even one as worthy as saving the cheetah for future generations,” says host Richard Wiese. “Laurie Marker addresses wildlife conservation by creating solutions like breeding livestock guarding dogs to save cheetahs. Her educational and research programs are remarkably innovative. I’m very proud to be able to spotlight her efforts in the cheetah’s race for survival.”

CCF’s Livestock Guarding Dog Program has been breeding and placing Anatolian shepherds and Kangal dogs with local livestock herders since 1994. The dogs, which are trained to guard herds from predators like cheetahs, leopards, and jackals, give Namibian farmers a means to protect their livelihood without resorting to shooting or killing cheetahs. The dogs are enormously effective, and farmers that utilize CCF dogs see an 80 percent reduction in predation rates to their herds.

“We’re on the verge of making some real strides to save the cheetah,” says Dr. Marker. “Our Livestock Guarding Dog Program and our other research and conservation education efforts have been very successful here in Namibia. We’re grateful to Richard for the opportunity to share our work with his viewers, and we hope that the increased awareness that comes from appearing on the show will help us to take our work even further.”

Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the global leader in research and conservation of cheetahs. It is a USA 501c3 with field headquarters in Namibia, Africa. CCF is dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild. CCF’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Marker, an American Biologist, is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on cheetah biology, ecology and conservation and has developed CCF’s conservation strategy to save the cheetah. CCF’s long-term studies have helped understand and monitor the factors affecting the cheetah’s survival in the wild and results are used to develop conservation policies and programs. People can learn more about CCF or make a donation to the organization by visiting www.cheetah.org.

About Litton’s Weekend Adventure

Produced by Litton Studios, Litton’s Weekend Adventure features six high-definition, original E/I series including Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown, hosted by the world’s premiere wildlife expert and animal ambassador, Jack Hanna; Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin, hosted by Jeff Corwin, best known for his Emmy® Award winning shows on the Disney Channel, Discovery and Animal Planet; Emmy® nominated Born to Explore with Richard Wiese, hosted by world explorer and former president of the renowned Explorers Club, Richard Wiese; Sea Rescue, hosted by environmental journalist and Good Morning America anchor Sam Champion, featuring the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wildlife back into the ocean; Recipe Rehab, a competition style cooking show that inspires a healthy lifestyle for kids and their families co-produced by Everyday Health and Mark Koops, the creator and executive producer of The Biggest Loser; and Food for Thought with Claire Thomas, hosted by Claire Thomas, a young role model for teens who will show America’s youth how to forge a healthy relationship with food, family, and friends. Litton’s Weekend Adventure airs every Saturday immediately following Good Morning America in most markets. For more information, visit www.littonweekendadventure.com