Funds raised will build state-of-the-art Cheetah Conservation Centre

The Big Cat Sanctuary is proud to announce the launch of ‘Born to Run’, an urgent new fundraising campaign dedicated to protecting the future of the cheetah. In a high-stakes race against extinction, the Sanctuary is calling on the public to help raise £60,000 to fund a multi-layered conservation strategy both in the UK and on the ground in Africa.

The campaign arrives at a critical turning point for the species. At the turn of the 20th century, 100,000 cheetahs roamed the wild; today, that number has plummeted to just 7,100. Now occupying only 9% of their historical range, cheetahs face an onslaught of threats, including escalating human-wildlife conflict, the illegal pet trade, and a dangerously shallow genetic pool.

Double the Donation, Double the Impact

To maximise the reach of the campaign, The Big Cat Sanctuary has partnered with Big Give, the UK’s leading match-funding platform, for its Earth Raise appeal. Run in partnership with Environmental Funders Network (EFN), the  seven-day online match funding campaign is dedicated to helping charities that play a pivotal role in tackling pressing environmental issues. From 22nd – 29th April only, every pound donated by the public will be matched, meaning a £50 donation instantly becomes £100, effectively doubling the impact on cheetah conservation.

A New Specialist Conservation Facility

The funds raised will be used to build a new state-of-the-art Cheetah Conservation Centre at the Sanctuary in Kent. This facility will support the EAZA Southern Cheetah Ex-situ Programme (EEP), providing international-standard welfare, nutrition, and veterinary care to safeguard a healthy captive gene pool. All being well, it will ready to welcome its first residents in late summer 2026.

A Blueprint for Survival

In addition to the new Cheetah Conservation centre, the funds raised through the ‘Born to Run’ campaign will support three vital pillars of conservation:

• Global Conservation Partnership: Continued support for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Africa, focusing on combating human-wildlife conflict, community awareness, and the rescue and rehabilitation of cheetahs caught in the illegal wildlife trade.
• Groundbreaking Research: As the IUCN SSC Centre for Species Survival Cats, the Sanctuary will fund essential research into cheetah biology and behaviour to inform global conservation strategies.
• Educational Outreach: The development of new programmes designed to inspire sustainable living and long-term behaviour change to protect the ecosystems these cats rely on.

Cam Whitnall, Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “The cheetah is the fastest land animal on earth, but right now, they are in a race they are losing. With fewer than 7,100 left in the wild, we don’t have the luxury of time. The Born to Run campaign is a defining moment for the Sanctuary; it allows us to bridge the gap between our specialist care here in Kent and vital field work in Africa. And by utilising the Big Give match-funding, our supporters have a unique opportunity to see their generosity go twice as far. Every donation is a direct investment in the survival of this iconic species.”

The race is on for the public to raise £30,000, which will be doubled to £60,000, and give cheetahs the future they deserve. To donate visit https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000C6jhvYAB/

ENDS

Photo Credit: The Big cat Sanctuary