In brief
- Somaliland Standard reported on 8 January 2022 that the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and Somaliland's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change broke ground and laid the cornerstone for the CCF Somaliland Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre (CRCC) on 16 December 2021.
- The report describes a multi-phase construction programme over the coming year at an 800-hectare site at Geed-Deeble, about an hour's drive from Hargeisa, but does not establish what has happened since.
On 8 January 2022, Somaliland Standard reported that the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and Somaliland's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) had broken ground and laid the cornerstone for the CCF Somaliland Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre (CRCC). The ceremony took place on Thursday, 16 December 2021, according to that report.
The report does not establish what has happened on the site since that event.
What the report describes
Somaliland Standard reported that the ground-breaking marked the official launch of construction, which it said will take place in several phases unfolding over the coming year. The new facility, according to the report, is set on more than 800 hectares at Geed-Deeble, a forest reserve about an hour's drive from Hargeisa.
When complete, the report said, the CRCC will provide a permanent home for cubs rescued from the illegal pet trade or human-wildlife conflict situations by the MoECC and placed in CCF's care. The report described plans for vast outdoor enclosures, a fully-equipped veterinary clinic and professionally trained staff living on-site. Once complete, it said, the centre will include education and vocational training facilities and will be open for public tours.
CCF's Founder and Executive Director, Dr Laurie Marker, said the CRCC has been designed to meet the needs of the confiscated cheetah population and will be the first facility of its kind in the Horn of Africa. The report also said the design is based on CCF's centre in Otjiwarongo, Namibia.
The agreement and what is not stated
Somaliland Standard reported that CCF and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change have signed a 30-year deal for CCF to develop the CRCC at Geed-Deeble. Under that arrangement, CCF is building the facility and will operate it for three decades while training Somaliland people to work there, after which CCF will hand over the facility to the Somaliland government.
Minister Shukri Haji Ismail said Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi made the plan and thanked CCF for taking on the responsibility of caring for and feeding the cheetahs.
The report does not state a contract value, total project cost, budget or funder. It names no contractor, consultant, architect or procurement process; CCF is identified only as the builder and operator. No completion date is given.
The event itself is reported in detail: Dr Laurie Marker handed the shovel to Somaliland's Head of Mission to the USA, Ambassador Bashir Goth, during the ceremony. Beyond 16 December 2021, however, the report provides no construction status, progress or operating status for the centre.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre being built?
Somaliland Standard reported that the facility is set on more than 800 hectares at Geed-Deeble, a forest reserve about an hour's drive from Hargeisa.
What facilities will the centre include?
According to Somaliland Standard, when complete the CRCC will feature vast outdoor enclosures, a fully-equipped veterinary clinic, on-site staff accommodation, and education and vocational training facilities. The report does not state enclosure dimensions or unit counts.
Who is funding the construction?
The report does not state a funder, budget or contract value. It identifies CCF as the builder and operator under a reported 30-year deal with Somaliland's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.