Meet the Wildlife Rangers Protecting Somaliland’s Cheetahs

Across the vast, dry landscapes of Somaliland, a group of 16 local men and women are making a difference for wildlife. They know the land, understand their communities and share a commitment to protecting the animals that call this region home.

They are the volunteer wildlife rangers of Geed-Deeble Conservancy, and they are helping build a safer future for cheetahs and other threatened species.

With training from Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), these dedicated volunteers have become the eyes and ears of their local landscape, monitoring wildlife, recording potential threats and reporting incidents of human-wildlife conflict.

But behind their commitment is a challenge that cannot be ignored. Despite the importance of their work, these volunteers lack many of the basic tools and resources needed to carry it out safely.

This is their story, and why standing alongside them matters.

Who are Somaliland’s volunteer wildlife rangers?

The 16 wildlife rangers are local men and women who have volunteered their time to protect the wildlife living across the Geed-Deeble Conservancy in Somaliland.

Unlike professional, salaried rangers, these volunteers have stepped forward because they care deeply about their natural heritage and want to make a difference in their communities.  With support and training from CCF, they are helping protect an area covering 526 square kilometres of rugged landscape.

Their responsibilities include monitoring wildlife, recording animal sightings, identifying potential threats and reporting incidents where people and wildlife come into conflict.

They play an important role in helping conservation teams understand what is happening across the landscape. Because they live in these communities and know the area, they are often among the first to notice when wildlife is in danger or when a conflict arises.

Their local knowledge is invaluable. By bringing together their observations and practical experience, they are helping CCF build a clearer picture of the challenges facing wildlife in the region.

Why are wildlife rangers important for cheetah conservation?

Somaliland is an important region for cheetah conservation, but protecting these animals requires more than rescuing those affected by the illegal wildlife trade. One of the biggest challenges facing wild cheetahs is human-wildlife conflict.

Across areas where people, livestock and predators share the same landscape, encounters can sometimes have devastating consequences. When predators attack livestock, families can lose animals that are essential to their livelihoods. For communities already facing financial hardship, these losses can create fear and frustration, sometimes leading to retaliatory killings. This puts cheetahs and other predators at risk.

This is where local wildlife rangers can make a real difference. By monitoring predator activity, recording wildlife sightings and reporting potential conflicts, the volunteers help conservation teams identify emerging problems and respond to threats.

Their observations also help inform solutions that protect both wildlife and the livelihoods of the people who share their environment.

Conservation cannot succeed without local communities. Those who know the landscape best have an important role to play in protecting it, and these 16 volunteers are demonstrating exactly what community-led conservation can achieve.

From training to action: Building a stronger conservation network

Earlier this year, CCF brought the volunteers together for specialist training to strengthen their knowledge and practical skills.

The sessions covered wildlife monitoring, species identification, record keeping and human-wildlife conflict. The volunteers returned to their communities with new knowledge and a shared determination to protect the wildlife around them. But training is only the beginning.

To put these skills into practice, the rangers need the right equipment and support. Their work takes them across rough, rocky and exposed terrain, often walking for miles under intense heat.

At present, they have limited access to water and lack many essential items, including sturdy boots, protective clothing and reliable field equipment. Despite the vital role they play, they receive no payment for their time.

We cannot expect these extraordinary volunteers to continue carrying out such important work without providing the resources they need to do it safely. Protecting wildlife starts with protecting the people who care for it.

How can you help Somaliland’s wildlife rangers?

The 16 volunteers have already shown their commitment. They have completed their training, dedicated their time and taken responsibility for protecting the wildlife around them. Now, we need your help to make sure they have the tools to continue.

CCF UK has launched a fundraising campaign with a goal of raising £8,000 to provide essential equipment and support for all 16 wildlife rangers, helping sustain their conservation work for an entire year.

Your contribution will help provide the practical resources they need to carry out their work more safely, including appropriate footwear, protective clothing and field equipment.

By supporting these volunteers, you are helping strengthen wildlife monitoring, improve the reporting of potential threats and support efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Most importantly, you are standing alongside the local people who are already working to protect their natural heritage.

They have given their time. Will you help give them the tools?

DONATE TODAY AND SUPPORT SOMALILAND’S WILDLIFE RANGERS 

Every contribution brings us closer to our goal and helps ensure these dedicated volunteers can continue making a difference for cheetahs, other threatened wildlife and the communities that share their home.

Stand with Somaliland’s wildlife rangers. Stand with cheetahs.