Berbera, Somaliland — Authorities in Somaliland intercepted a small dhow off the coast of Berbera on Sunday and rescued 11 cheetah cubs that traffickers had crammed into potato-sack–style bags, officials and conservationists said.
Local coast guard officers arrested five suspects—two Somaliland nationals and three Yemenis—during the maritime operation. The cubs were transferred to the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s (CCF) rescue centre, where veterinarians began emergency stabilization.
“The cubs were in very poor condition,” said Laurie Marker, founder of CCF. “One died only a few hours after arriving at CCF’s centre despite ICU care; another died the next day. Two remain in critical condition, and seven are responding.” Staff reintroduced nutrition slowly, beginning with fluids to avoid fatal complications in severely malnourished animals.
Somaliland, a self-governing region of Somalia, has emerged as a major transit hub for the illegal wildlife trade, with traffickers moving cheetahs and other big cats from the Horn of Africa across the Gulf of Aden to buyers in Gulf states. Although possession of wildlife is illegal under Somaliland law and police conduct frequent raids, demand for exotic pets continues to drive smuggling. In August, authorities arrested two people and rescued another 10 cheetah cubs reportedly destined for the Gulf.
CCF says its Somaliland facility is now caring for 128 rescued cheetahs, underscoring the scale of the crisis. Fewer than 7,000 cheetahs are believed to remain in the wild. Conservationists warn that removing cubs from their mothers for sale as status pets not only kills many in transit but also destabilizes ecosystems by eliminating top predators.
“Cheetahs are not pets. They are wild animals and play an important role in the ecosystem,” Marker said. “Wildlife belongs in the wild. Please help us stop the illegal wildlife pet trade in cheetahs and other species being trafficked around the world.”
Authorities said the five suspects will face prosecution under Somaliland’s wildlife laws. The government has pledged to intensify coastal patrols and collaborate with regional partners to disrupt cross-border smuggling networks.
Wildlife advocates in the Horn of Africa are urging Gulf countries to tighten enforcement against private ownership of exotic species and to increase penalties for buyers and brokers. Without stronger action on both sides of the Gulf of Aden, they warn, cheetah populations could slip further toward extinction.
