Save Orphaned Cheetahs

Hello everyone! People who are close to me could tell you immediately what my favorite animal is, the CHEETAH! Since I was a young child I have been fascinated by large cats. For years I have said I will go to Africa before I die, and I will see the cheetahs in their natural habitat before they are extinct. Now that I am 33 years old I have the opportunity to live out that dream! This
December I will be going on an amazing journey to the African country of Namibia where I will care for orphaned cheetahs.

The Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary, in Namibia, was founded in 2006 for two reasons. First, the founders wanted to protect and conserve vulnerable African wildlife. Many of these beautiful wild creatures are needlessly shot and killed because they are considered a nuisance to the locals. Naankuse is a place that offers the rescue and release of these carnivores. Since 2008 Naankuse has rescued and safely re-released over 70 cheetahs, leopards, and brown hyenas. Each of the large carnivores was fit with a tracking collar so that Naankuse could follow their movements. Second, Naankuse was developed to improve the lives of the Sans Bushman community. Naankuse arranges jobs at their reserve for the Sans Bushman to perform. A portion of the volunteer fee goes directly to the work the Sans Bushman perform.

At the sanctuary my time will be spent caring and feeding the animals, which include orphaned and injured lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, caracals, baboons, meerkats, and farmyard animals. In addition to working with the animals, I will be working on projects that help maintain and develop the sanctuary, like digging trenches and maintaining watering holes for the animals. Although some of the work sounds grueling, I can’t wait for this incredible opportunity.

First and foremost, your gracious donations will help cover the volunteer fee. All the money for the volunteer fee goes to various aspects of the project, employment, education and
accommodation of the local Bushman community, and to the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of the animals. Any additional donations collected will goes towards funding this trip.

For donating I would like to give you something in return, something more than just a thank you. A simple thank you cannot express how grateful I am that you helped to make my dream a
reality. I would love to include each of you in my rewarding experience, so either I will donate an item to the local school children or lifeline clinic on your behalf, or I will send you a photograph that captures the beautiful land of Africa. Please make sure to leave your name and select which way you would like me to thank you. I never thought going to Africa would happen!

“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”

~Plato