Cheetah's Best Friend

Tending to his herd of goats, a farmer makes a dreadful discovery. A goat lies on the ground, killed by a predator. The farmer thinks he knows who is to blame: the cheetahs he’s seen prowling near his farm. If the farmer loses any more goats, he won’t earn enough money to feed his family.

This scene was once common in Namibia, a country on Africa’s southwestern coast. During the 1980s, cheetahs regularly attacked the goats and sheep raised by farmers. To protect their livestock, the farmers shot and killed thousands of cheetahs.

A farmer tends to his herd of goats. But he finds something terrible. A goat lies on the ground. It was killed by a predator. The farmer thinks he knows who’s to blame. It’s the cheetahs he’s seen near his farm. The farmer can’t lose any more goats. Otherwise, he won’t earn enough money to feed his family.

This scene was once common in Namibia. That’s a country on Africa’s southwestern coast. Cheetahs often attacked farmers’ goats and sheep during the 1980s. The farmers wanted to protect their livestock. So the farmers shot and killed thousands of cheetahs.

But since 1994, there’s been a better solution: the Livestock Guarding Dog Program. The program pairs farmers with dogs that guard their herds. Since cheetahs don’t hunt guarded livestock, farmers have less reason to kill the big cats.

The guard dog program is run by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which works to protect cheetahs. One hundred years ago, there were about 100,000 cheetahs in the wild. Now there are fewer than 7,500, including 2,000 in Namibia (see Cheetah Ranges). The guard dogs are helping keep cheetah numbers from dropping even more, says Brian Badger, who works at CCF.

But there’s been a better solution since 1994. The Livestock Guarding Dog Program pairs farmers with dogs that guard their herds. Cheetahs don’t hunt guarded livestock. So farmers have less reason to kill the big cats. 

The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) runs the guard dog program. It works to protect cheetahs. About 100,000 wild cheetahs lived 100 years ago. Now fewer than 7,500 exist. That includes 2,000 in Namibia (see Cheetah Ranges). The guard dogs help keep cheetah numbers from falling even more, says Brian Badger. He works at CCF.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. They have adaptations that allow them to reach speeds of 113 kilometers (70 miles) per hour when they hunt (see Built for Speed). Most predators in Africa, like lions and leopards, stalk prey at night. Unlike these animals, cheetahs hunt during the day.

Cheetahs’ daytime hunting means that farmers notice them more often than other predators. So when a goat is killed, farmers often blame cheetahs, says Badger. “Cheetahs are enemy number one because they’re easy to see,” he says.

In Namibia, farms can span tens of thousands of acres. Most farms don’t have high fences, so wild animals like cheetahs roam the land. But when the cheetahs mix with livestock, the result can be deadly.

Cheetahs typically hunt antelope, hare, and other wild herbivores. Goats and sheep aren’t as speedy as these animals. That makes them easy meals for cheetahs. “It’s like going through a drivethrough,” says Badger.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. They have features that allow them to run fast. They can reach 113 kilometers (70 miles) per hour when they hunt (see Built for Speed). Predators in Africa include lions and leopards. They stalk prey at night. But cheetahs hunt during the day. 

Cheetahs’ daytime hunting means farmers notice them more often than other predators. So farmers often blame cheetahs when a goat is killed, says Badger. “Cheetahs are enemy number one because they’re easy to see,” he says.

Farms can cover tens of thousands of acres in Namibia. Most farms don’t have high fences. So wild animals like cheetahs roam the land. The result can be deadly when cheetahs mix with livestock.

Cheetahs usually hunt antelope, hare, and other wild herbivores. Goats and sheep aren’t as speedy as these animals. That makes them easy meals for cheetahs. “It’s like going through a drive-through,” says Badger.

In 1990, CCF’s founder, Laurie Marker, decided to take action. She and her staff talked to farmers to learn why they were killing cheetahs. The CCF team decided the best way to protect cheetahs was by helping farmers protect their herds.

CCF started the program with 10 Anatolian shepherds. These 100-pound dogs were first bred in Turkey to protect livestock from bears and wolves. Their size and protective instinct make them excellent guard dogs. 

In 1990, Laurie Marker, the founder of CCF, decided to act. She and her staff talked to farmers. She learned why they were killing cheetahs. The CCF team decided the best way to protect cheetahs was by helping farmers protect their herds. 

CCF started the program with 10 Anatolian shepherds. They’re 100-pound dogs. They were first bred in Turkey to protect livestock from bears and wolves. The shepherds are perfect guard dogs. 

The puppies are born and raised at the CCF headquarters in Namibia. Staff test them to make sure they have the right personality for the job. The dogs receive almost no training. “They’re naturals,” says Badger.

At 12 weeks old, the puppies are sent to farms. There, they live alongside the livestock. They head out with the herder each day and return at night. Anatolian shepherds are fiercely loyal. If a goat is injured or giving birth, the dogs will stay and keep watch.

When a cheetah is near, the dogs bark loudly. That alerts the herder and scares the cheetah away. “They’re like an alarm system,” says Badger. 

Puppies are born and raised at the CCF headquarters in Namibia. Staff test the dogs. They make sure the dogs have the right fit for the job. The dogs get almost no training. “They’re naturals,” says Badger. 

The puppies are sent to farms at 12 weeks old. There, they live alongside the livestock. They head out with the herder each day. They return at night. Anatolian shepherds are very loyal. A goat may get hurt or give birth. The dogs will stay and keep watch.

The dogs bark loudly when a cheetah is near. That alerts the herder. It also scares the cheetah away. “They’re like an alarm system,” says Badger. 

When the program started, many farmers doubted it would work. To date, CCF has placed more than 700 guard dogs. There’s a three-year waitlist to receive a dog! CCF is now expanding across Namibia. And neighboring countries are starting their own guard dog programs.

With their livestock protected, farmers now see cheetahs as allies, says Badger. They keep the population of grass-eating mammals under control. Without cheetahs, herbivores could overeat plants, harming the land.

Cheetahs face many other threats. They are losing habitat to cities and farms. Their cubs are often caught and sold illegally as pets outside Africa. CCF is working with communities to solve these problems too. “We’re not just looking after the cheetah,” says Badger. “We want everyone to win.”

Many farmers didn’t think the program would work at first. Today, CCF has placed more than 700 guard dogs. There’s a three-year waitlist to get a dog! CCF is now expanding across Namibia. And nearby countries are starting their own guard dog programs. 

Livestock are safe. Now farmers see cheetahs as friends, says Badger. They keep the number of grass-eating mammals under control. Herbivores could overeat plants without cheetahs. That would harm the land. 

Cheetahs face many other threats. They are losing habitat to cities and farms. Their cubs are often caught. They’re sold illegally as pets outside Africa. CCF is working with communities to solve these problems too. “We’re not just looking after the cheetah,” says Badger. “We want everyone to win.”