Global Rewilding Day: Understanding Cheetah Rewilding Through CCF’s Work

Today, on Global Rewilding Day, we celebrate the power of nature to heal and restore itself. Rewilding is a dynamic conservation approach that helps rebuild ecosystems, reversing biodiversity loss and strengthening nature’s life-supporting functions. By allowing wildlife to reclaim their habitats, rewilding fosters a more resilient planet—one where species can thrive once again.

As the world celebrates rewilding, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) stands at the forefront of this vital work, demonstrating how targeted interventions can restore endangered species to their rightful place in the wild.  Since 2001, we have been working to return orphaned and rescued cheetahs to their natural habitat.

Between 2001 and 2012, we rescued 86 orphaned cheetahs, selecting 36 (42%) as candidates for release. Our success rates have been promising, with 75–96% of these cheetahs achieving independence in the wild.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how the rewilding process works, why it’s crucial for cheetah conservation, and how you can support our efforts to protect these magnificent animals.

What is Rewilding and Why Does it Matter?

Rewilding is a large-scale conservation strategy focused on restoring ecosystems to their natural state. It involves reintroducing key species, reviving ecological processes, and allowing nature to recover with minimal human intervention. By bringing back lost wildlife and promoting self-sustaining environments, rewilding strengthens biodiversity and ensures a healthier future for animals and people.

Also, cheetahs are an endangered species, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild. As apex predators, cheetahs play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Their presence regulates prey populations, preventing overgrazing and promoting a healthy, diverse habitat. Every cheetah successfully reintroduced strengthens wild populations, helping to preserve genetic diversity and balance the ecosystem. Rewilding also combats the effects of habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict by giving these cats a second chance at a natural life.

How Does the Process of Rewilding a Cheetah Work?

Rewilding a cheetah isn’t as simple as opening a cage and letting them run free. These big cats need to relearn essential survival skills like hunting, avoiding predators, and finding shelter. The process usually happens in carefully managed stages:

• Rescue and Rehabilitation: Many cheetahs that enter rewilding programmes come from captivity, illegal pet trade rescues, or conflict situations. Before anything else, they undergo health checks (blood tests, vaccines, etc.) and rehabilitation to ensure they are physically strong.
• Pre-Release Training: In a controlled but natural environment, cheetahs are given the opportunity to practice stalking and hunting prey. They start with easy targets and gradually work their way up to fully independent hunting.
• Monitoring in a Semi-Wild Space: Before full release, cheetahs are moved to large, fenced areas of several hundred hectares. Here, they refine their hunting and survival skills while being closely monitored using GPS collars, camera traps, and direct observation. Conservationists track their movements, hunting success, and social interactions to ensure they are ready for the wild.
• Full Release: Once they have proven they can hunt and fend for themselves, they are released into a protected area, often fitted with tracking collars so researchers can keep an eye on their progress. We are monitoring Hela, who has given birth to three healthy cubs.

The Journey Back to the Wild

Rewilding cheetahs is a complex and carefully monitored process. Cheetahs undergo training-release programs where they learn essential survival skills, such as hunting and navigating their environment.

 A recent study found that of 17 cheetahs participating in training release, 52% successfully reached independence and were released, while 48% did not adapt and were returned to captivity. Some cheetahs struggled with hunting, while others failed to explore beyond the release enclosure. However, for those that did achieve independence, the results were remarkable—96% of the fully released cheetahs thrived in the wild, with many making their first kills within two weeks.

If you want to read our full study about the rehabilitation and release of wild-born, captive-raised cheetahs, click here.

Hela’s Success Story

Hela, a cheetah that defied the odds, is an inspiring example of rewilding. Rescued from captivity, Hela began her journey in a rehabilitation centre, where she gradually learned how to hunt and survive on her own. Conservationists closely followed her progress, ensuring she developed the skills she needed. After months of preparation, Hela was released into the wild, where she thrived—successfully hunting and even contributing to the wild cheetah population.

Click here to learn more about Hela’s journey.

How You Can Help

Rewilding programmes rely on support to continue their vital work. Whether through donations, symbolic adoptions, or simply spreading awareness, every effort helps give more cheetahs like Hela a second chance at life in the wild.

This month, we’re running a special campaign dedicated entirely to rewilding. Every donation will go directly toward our rewilding program, helping us provide essential care for recently rescued cheetah cubs in Namibia and Somaliland. Your support will fund critical health checks, food, vaccines, and the daily resources needed to train these cubs for life in the wild.

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Click here to donate now, and start helping us give these cheetahs the future they deserve today. 

By understanding and supporting rewilding, we can all ensure cheetahs continue to roam free, just as nature intended.