Visiting the Cheetah Refuge is a highlight of Americans deployed to Camp Lemonnier. Hearing of a Cheetah Encounter Program coordinated by a volunteer from Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, I scheduled private tours for the Expeditionary Medical Facility. On this trip, we brought along our Aeromedical Flight Line Nurse from U.S. Air Force, our Veterinarian, our senior EMF Nurse, as well as our Somali friend, Said.
CDR Kymie Taylor, our senior EMF Nurse
Said, our Somali friend, sees animals up close for his first time.
CPT Peterson, our Veterinarian
our Aeromedical Flight Coordinator
Sgt Waites, our Vet Tech
This is East Africa. The flora and fauna at the Cheetah Refuge are unique compared to the rest of the small country. The Djibouti Cheetah Refuge was started by a French veterinarian by the name of Bertrand Lafrance in 2003. He found Tessai, his first Cheetah, on sale in a local restaurant and involved the police in rescuing her. Since rescuing Tessai he has since opened the Refuge to what now contains six cheetahs, dozens of wild gazelles, ostriches, lynx, tortoises and many exotic birds.
The Cheetah Refuge Volunteer Program for Camp Lemonier was started by Gail Ward in 2008. This consists of volunteers going to the Refuge three times a week to help maintain the trails, build roads, help with the feeding of the animals, build new pens and whatever else needs to be done. There are many volunteer programs on Camp Lemonier and this quickly became one of the most popular ones. Because the refuge relies on 100 percent donations Gail started the Cheetah Encounter Program where she took visitors on a private corridor tour to get up close and personal with two of the six cheetahs. She educated them on the importance of cheetahs in the wild and the endangerment of the species. Experts believe there are less than 15,000 cheetahs left in the wild. Everyone gets to come away with petting both Tessai and Awaleh (both born and raised in captivity) with photos they can share with familiy and friends back home and an experience to last a lifetime. The Refuge benefits with the much needed donations.
While Gail had departed prior to our arrival, her work continues and the Cheetah Volunteer Program remains one of the most popular volunteer programs on Camp. A dedicated volunteer from the program continues to provide private tours through the Cheetah Encounter Program and participants continue to have an experience of a lifetime. Thank you Gail from everyone who has ever been deployed to Camp Lemonnier.
Gail Ward, Founder of the Cheetah Refuge Volunteer Program and Cheetah Encounter Program
