Wild Wonders fundraiser for cheetah cubs raises over $13,000

BONSALL – Over 100 people gathered at Wild Wonders in Bonsall Saturday night, Nov. 2, at their fundraising event for the Cheetah Conservation Fund. The proceeds will be used to build and staff “safe houses” for cheetah cubs rescued in Somaliland from the illegal pet trade.

Attendees enjoyed wine from Cougar Vineyards and Leoness Cellars, appetizers, African drum music from Nana and a silent auction.

Many of Wild Wonders’ animal ambassadors were introduced to the crowd, but none made a bigger impact than Victor, one of the three cheetahs at Wild Wonders. Victor was raised in Africa to be an ambassador for his species, and over his 12-year life, he has helped to raise over

$100,000 for cheetah conservation.

Attendees also heard a videotaped message from Dr. Laurie Marker, head of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. She outlined the desperate situation of cubs being taken from their mothers, transported in boxes and small plastic containers and sold to people as pets. Many cubs do not survive the journey, and those that become pets do not survive more than a year or two. With less than 7,500 cheetahs in the wild, every cub is precious, Marker said.

More information about the illegal pet trade is available on the Wild Wonders website, http://www.wildwonders.org, and donations are still being accepted.

Submitted by Wild Wonders.