Cheetahs sold on the black market for as little as US$2,500 (Dh9,000) are placing the species at risk of dying out unless tighter measures to control illegal trafficking are enforced.
Wild animal experts who source endangered species for zoos and safari parks to help preserve their future and educate the public said that most cheetahs die during the smuggling process.
Tim Husband, technical director of Dubai Safari, said cheetahs are the “supermodels” of the animal kingdom but are fragile and can be notoriously hard to care for in captivity.
“The biggest problem with the smuggling of cheetahs is that 75 per cent or so die in transit, or soon afterwards,” he said.
“The traffickers do not want to smuggle adults as they take up too much room, so go after juveniles.
“Most are pulled from their mothers far too young, and end up starving to death. Some go in to shock and everything just closes down.”
_______________
Read more:
Big cats continue to be sold in UAE via social media despite federal law
Enforcement of exotic animal laws goes hand-in-hand with education
Sanctuaries in Africa offer to take exotic pets from UAE following amnesty
_______________
Mr Husband said common tactics by traffickers to avoid detection were providing only tiny holes in transit crates, which can lead to the young cats suffocating.
He has also seen evidence of smugglers throwing the cats live pigeons to feed on but without a learned hunting behaviour acquired in the wild, young cats often starve to death.
Another crisis facing cheetahs is how to protect pure breeds of the species, as many illegal breeders bypass international stud books and put related animals together, which can cause genetic kidney problems.
Most are taken from the wild in Africa, and many are destined for the Middle East.
Those that do make it here, to private collections, are often fed the wrong diet by their “owners”, who have little knowledge of the complex diet required for survival.
Dubai Safari is establishing a large quarantine area where owners of cheetahs in the UAE can hand over their cats to a place where they will receive the best care possible, in purpose-built enclosures. It is due to open this year.
Reputable, licensed traders are used by ethical zoos to stock up with animals, with legal cheetah sales costing up to US$25,000 (Dh92,000). However, Mr Husband said it can be a murky industry.
“If you have money, it is possible to pay people off so you don’t get caught trafficking these cats or fuelling the trade itself,” he said.
“Animals are rarely confiscated from the very rich.
“It would be good if the penalties were stronger. Don’t go after the guy who is catching the animals in the wild and trying to feed his family but the traders who are buying them.
“If you get rid of the middle man you will help destroy the market. That begins with proper enforcement of international law.
“It has to be stronger than it is, it’s a bit of a toothless tiger.”
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
More on Yemen's civil war
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
