The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Somaliland's Geed-Deeble savannah is a vital sanctuary for cheetahs rescued from a brutal trafficking trade that supplies exotic pets to the Gulf. These critically endangered animals, with only an estimated 7,000 remaining globally, are captured young, often in Somaliland or Ethiopia, and smuggled to countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with a staggering mortality rate of four to five cubs dying for every one that reaches its destination. The CCF currently houses 127 cheetahs, many of whom were rescued in dire conditions, such as a group of 11 cubs intercepted by the Somaliland coastguard. Despite laws criminalizing the trade in dangerous animals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, trafficking persists, threatening the species with virtual extinction, as highlighted by a 2021 report indicating around 300 cheetahs are smuggled annually. The CCF is also developing a rewilding area to prepare some of the younger cheetahs for a potential return to nature.