Vaccination of Local Dogs – Eliminating the Threats of Zoonotic Diseases

At CCF Namibia, our resident cheetahs are at risk from infectious diseases carried by stray and domestic animals. These illnesses (including rabies, feline viral rhinotracheitis, distemper and other transmissible diseases), primarily carried by stray cats and dogs, pose a significant risk not only to our resident cheetahs but also to wild cheetah populations and local communities.

Our rabies vaccination campaign is a cornerstone of our One Health approach designed to protect local communities, domestic animals and wildlife.

• Currently, CCF is on Trip 4 of the 2025 campaign in Namibia’s Eastern Communal Lands
• Over 10,000 animals vaccinated since the programme began six years ago

By reducing the spread of rabies in domestic dogs and cats, the campaign prevents transmission of the disease to humans and wild carnivores, including cheetahs.

With rabies a threat to both wildlife and communities, CCF’s team in Namibia has, in 2024 alone, vaccinated over 3,300 local dogs, protecting cheetahs and people alike from this deadly disease.