Active and agile, the cheetah holds the title of the speediest land mammal – but that may not be enough to save this fast feline. Cheetah populations across the globe are dwindling, with some sources estimating that only 9,000 to 12,000 cats remain. The problem stems from our growing world. People are now building in areas that used to be safe spaces for the cheetah – and many see the animals as a threat to their livestock. As these farmers eliminate the cheetah they encounter, they also unknowingly force them one step closer to extinction. 
Luckily, all is not lost for the cheetah. Botswana has one of the largest remaining cheetah populations – and a new project is working to protect these proud predators. Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) has vowed to maintain populations of free ranging cheetah by teaching individuals how to co-exist with the wildlife around them. Farmers have access to site visits, community meetings, and training workshops, and a support hotline.
The cheetah’s long term survival now depends upon raising awareness of their plight. School education is a vital aspect of this program – teaching local youth the ecological importance of predators and encouraging them to see cheetahs as a national resource to be conserved. The Sea World & Busch Gardens Fund has supported CCB since 2010 and shares their belief that only by learning to live in harmony with the world around us can we hope for a better future.
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