Page 25 - CCF

CCF’s Projects Sponsored by You
Model Farm & Livestock Guarding Dogs
“Dogs saving cats”
Due to competition with other predators in protected areas, most cheetahs
must survive on farmlands where they may come into contact with humans and
their livestock, resulting in Human and Wildlife Conflict and sometimes livestock
loss. Many Namibian farmers perceive cheetahs as having an excessively nega-
tive economic impact on their livestock and wild game industries, however, few
farmers know the facts about the cheetah and often do not attempt to control
predators in a non-lethal manner. Farmers hold the future of the cheetah in their
hands, so one of CCF’s key focuses is Human and Wildlife Conflict Resolution.
CCF began its Livestock Guarding Dog programme in 1994, using Anatolian
Shepherd and Kangal dogs, both Turkish breeds. These breeds were chosen
because they can work unsupervised in vast open areas, have short hair coats
and can adapt to Namibia’s desert climate. They are as large as most predators,
and have an intimidating bark which deters predators from livestock herds. This
has lead to fewer human-predator conflicts, meaning a more sustainable way for
humans to co-exist and fewer indiscriminate killings of cheetah.
CCF breeds the Livestock Guarding Dogs on our Model Farm. Puppies are placed
from CCF to local farmers, and their progress is assessed regularly. This pro-
gramme has been so successful with Namibian farmers that it has been intro-
duced to other African countries where human-predator conflict is also a com-
mon problem.
CCF’s Model Farm also raises livestock (cattle, goats and sheep) and teaches
sustainable animal husbandry to local farmers. CCF’s Model Farm and Livestock
Guarding Dog programme are included in CCF’s Centre Tour.