Cheetah of the Month: Meet Kelce

Kelce was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Somaliland in February 2025, along with his three siblings, Good Boy, Tiny Tim and Marline. Thanks to collaborative efforts of Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and Somaliland’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), the cubs were confiscated from wildlife traffickers and transferred to the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre (CRCC) in Geed-Deeble for care – and were estimated to be only a seven to eight weeks old at the time. With round-the-clock care, staff at the CRCC were able to stabilize the tiny cubs and begin their rehabilitation. 

Just a few weeks after Kelce arrived, two other cheetah cubs approximately the same age were rescued. Named Khalid and Taylor, the new arrivals were gradually introduced to Kelce and his siblings, and all six cubs bonded quickly . 

Being removed from the wild at such a young age meant these cubs missed out on the opportunity to learn critical survival skills from their mothers. But, by forming a bonded group, they helped to simulate the natural learning process and social structure that occurs in the wild.

A Big Milestone for Kelce

Just a few months ago, in May of this year, Kelce hit a big milestone. He aged out the cub area at the CRCC, which is located in close proximity to the clinic, and became a ‘bush cat,’ moving to a much larger and wilder enclosure with natural features to provide plenty of enrichment. 

At the CRCC, young cats are typically relocated to bigger enclosures when they are approximately 18 months old, the age cheetahs typically separate from their mothers in the wild. This is also around the same time that male and female siblings typically go their separate ways in the wild, male and female cats are separated too. 

Today, Kelce lives with a group of male cheetahs, including his brother Tiny Tim, and his adopted brother, Khalid. While female cheetahs typically live largely solitary lives in the wild, male siblings often stick together, forming groups called coalitions. These sibling groups provide strength in numbers, for instance, helping to boost hunting success, and providing some extra protection from other predators. 

Kelce is a Star Athlete

Kelce was named for professional football player Travis Kelce, standout offensive player for the Kansas City Chiefs. Just like his namesake, Kelce the cheetah is an exceptional athlete – and a playful and fun-loving cat. Staff at the CRCC describe Kelce as brave and inquisitive – and one of the first of his group to check out new things. 

As a cub, he was often observed harassing his siblings to play and stealing grooming tools from the keepers. Today, he’s an active young cheetah and he loves to talk and chase absolutely anything. Although he’s not scoring touchdowns, he has shown off his exceptional speed while chasing the mechanical lure (an activity he absolutely loves, according to his keepers). He still loves to stalk and chase absolutely anything – including his brothers. 

Kelce also has a distinctive appearance, distinguishable thanks to his round and wide eyes, which are framed by white fur, giving him a surprised expression. 

If you want to support our work or sponsor Kelce, click here. Thanks to all the support we get, we are able to rescue and take care of these amazing cheetahs, including Kelce, giving them a second chance in life.