Conservationists are reporting a major decline in the trafficking of cheetah cubs from the Horn of Africa into the Middle East – a trend that offers hope for their survival.
Five years on from the introduction of tough laws that banned the illegal sale of wildlife and unregulated private zoos in the UAE, their impact is at last being felt in Africa.
We do believe the heyday of the cub trade has passed
Susan Yannetti,
Cheetah Conservation Fund
Tighter border controls and the prosecution of those bringing wildlife into the region illegally has resulted in waning demand for cheetah cubs, according to the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Somaliland, East Africa.
“The increased enforcement by Somaliland in the Gulf [of Aden] and along known smuggling routes, plus the increased community awareness for poaching as a crime has led to a major decline in cub trafficking,” said Susan Yannetti, the CCF’s Middle East ambassador.
“We still have 67 cheetahs in Hargeisa; people are still taking them as a means of thwarting predation ... others think selling cubs is a good idea, so our work is far from done.
“But we do believe the heyday of the cub trade has passed.
“People all over the world are becoming aware that taking cheetahs from the wild to be pets will lead to their extinction, and that most people don't want to lose the species.”
Owing to tighter airport controls as well as more training from the authorities on wildlife trafficking methods, cheetahs are rarely trafficked through airports, conservationists said.
Animals being trafficked by sea and then driven across land borders is a more likely route into the region.
“Cubs are smuggled with drugs, antiquities, other wild species and humans heading to the Middle East,” Ms Yannetti said.
“The consumer demand for cheetahs as pets among the general public has been mostly quashed and the remainder driven underground.”
The conservation fund said about five per cent of all captive cheetahs are registered in the UAE.
In September and October, a team from the Somaliland Ministry of Environment and Rural Development rescued 11 cheetah cubs taken from the wild in four separate incidents.
The cubs were rounded up during a sweep of the Sool and Saraar districts based on intelligence generated during a wildlife conference held in July.
The cubs were estimated to have been between five to six weeks old at the time of confiscation, and are recovering at a wildlife sanctuary in Hargeisa.
A man was arrested in association with the seizure.
“The ministry is glad to be working in the eastern regions to raise awareness for the illegal nature of poaching of wildlife,” said Abdinassir Hussein, the ministry's wildlife director.
“We want to discourage others from taking cheetah cubs and other wild animals from our landscapes. It is against the law for any reason.”
Training and educational workshops have been held under the Legal Intelligence for Cheetah Illicit Trade project to increase Somaliland’s capacity to stop the illegal trade in cheetahs and other wildlife.
The action is part of a wider effort to protect the species by cutting supply, as well as demand.
Dr Laurie Marker, the CCF’s founder and executive director, said loss of habitat, climate change and human-wildlife conflict remain the biggest challenges to saving the cheetah from extinction. Just 7,500 are thought to exist in the wild.
“One of the solutions is reducing demand for cheetah,” she said.
“There is more awareness now in the UAE resulting from the wildlife laws that were implemented five years ago.
“It takes time for them to take effect.
“But we know a lot of animals that were in private hands have either been confiscated or handed over to facilities where they have permits, like Dubai Safari or private facilities.
“A lot of work has been done to educate people and that is making a difference.”
In a recent report by Interpol, a global crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade recovered 29 big cats at border crossings across the world.
The report did not specify what species of cats were intercepted, or from where.
During Operation Thunder, Interpol identified several trends, including a greater use of online platforms to organise cross-border trafficking, more forging of travel documents and links with wider criminal networks.
In Namibia, 14 trafficking cases were linked to the illegal trade of pharmaceuticals, food and car parts.
The government of Somaliland has donated 800 hectares of land to the conservation fund's centre in Hargeisa to expand and cater for more cheetahs in a natural habitat.
It should be completed by the end of next year.
The centre also has three safe houses where cheetahs are taken once they are intercepted before entering rehabilitation and recovery programmes.
Rare creatures in the Middle East: in pictures
Racecard
6.35pm: American Business Council – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm: British Business Group – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: CCI France UAE – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
8.20pm: Czech Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,400m
8.55pm: Netherlands Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
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match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
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Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
MATHC INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
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Company%20Profile
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Wicked: For Good
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Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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