AfriCat Footage
on ITV Wild

WHO WE ARE

The AfriCat Foundation was founded in 1991 and officially registered as a non-profit organisation in 1993. AfriCat ran the largest cheetah and leopard rescue-and-release programme in the world – in the last 18 years 1060 of these predators were rescued. Over 85% were released back into the wild. However, despite concerted efforts, few adopted these tried & tested solutions and AfriCat soon became the easy way out – 'problem' Cheetahs & Leopards were caught in cage traps and AfriCat was called to collect! AfriCat was soon faced with a dilemma – what to do with the Cheetahs & Leopards taken off these farms? All animals were examined - some were injured and needed care and minor wounds treated immediately. Those with serious injuries were taken to AfriCat Welfare (the Carnivore Care Centre), where a Veterinarian was consulted. Over time, the resultant number of 'captive' carnivores increased, with little or no options for release. Food and medical care costs rose to astronomical amounts and thanks to the AfriCat supporters, funding could be sourced for their continued upkeep. The problem, however, remained that with the calls from farmers, the numbers of carnivores at AfriCat’s Carnivore Care Centre continued to grow. In essence, detracting from our mission statement, 'to keep wild carnivores wild'!

However, a number of Cheetah & Leopard collected off farms were healthy enough to be released shortly thereafter. Where the farmer was in agreement, the animals were released at the place of capture. Otherwise, they were relocated to appropriate areas, usually within a day of their rescue. If recuperation time was needed, they were held temporarily at AfriCat until fit enough for release.

AfriCat has grown significantly since its inception and has over the years identified the need to include a focus on education, community support, research and rehabilitation as being essential to accomplishing our mission – the long-term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores.

The newly completed (May 2010) Okonjima Nature Reserve, is now dedicated to environmental education and to the research and rehabilitation of captive carnivores.

Namibia is situated along the south-western coast of Africa and covers an area of 824 300 km² (321 500 square miles). This large country has a population of only 2.3 million people. All regions of Namibia are populated with wildlife, including large carnivores, although population numbers vary dramatically in different parts of the country.

Namibia is home to approximately 25% of the world’s cheetah population of which 90% live on farmland. Namibia’s other large carnivores, namely, leopards, lions, wild dogs and brown and spotted hyaenas, are not believed to consist of such large percentages of the world’s population; however, they also reside on the unique farmland ecosystem. It is the inevitable conflict with humans on commercial and communal farmland that created the demand for the establishment of the AfriCat Foundation.

Although AfriCat is active throughout Namibia, the organisation operates from two locations – one on Okonjima farm in central Namibia, near the town of Otjiwarongo and the second, known as AfriCat North, from Kaross farm, bordering Etosha National Park.