The economy drives everything from the price of fuel to conservation efforts. We are forced to become creative in our efforts to save the wild cheetah from extinction in Kenya. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is one conservation organization which is suffering from the global economic crisis. In order to continue their programmes in Namibia, CCF has made the decision to downsize its international efforts and has given the Kenya cheetah project the challenge of functioning independently from CCF. We, the Cheetah Conservation Fund Kenya staff, are deeply indebted to Dr. Laurie Marker and CCF for all they have given to launch the cheetah programme in Kenya. While we will no longer be receiving monetary support as of January 2009, we will continue to be affiliated with CCF as colleagues and advisors in our goal of saving Kenya’s cheetahs.

The Kenya Wildlife Service has been an integral part of the CCFK operations, and will continue to be our partner in cheetah conservation. Strong bonds have been established with farmers and villagers in many regions of Kenya. We will not stop striving to educate and bring the unique challenges of this magnificent cat to light around the world.

New partnerships were formed in 2008 with permission granted for international researchers to collaboratively conduct cheetah monitoring Tsavo and Amboseli ecosystems. Cosmas Wambua completed his Master’s degree in July 2008 from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and will be the Senior Research Advisor to maintain consistency in data collection and analysis. Lumumba Mutiso will continue to be our Community Liaison Officer in the Salama area and will coordinate field scouts and cheetah monitoring there. Wallace Isaboke (formerly part of the East African Wild Life Society cheetah team) has initiated a self-funded effort to enhance our community outreach in the Salama area focusing on education and awareness on issues including cheetah conservation, bee keeping, tree planting and snare removal. I will be the link with the Ewaso Tracking Project to launch cheetah monitoring in the Samburu region in collaboration with Save the Elephants and the Mpala Research Centre. Together we will strengthen our community relationships and cheetah research activities in the above areas of Kenya.