“We are all connected in the great circle of life.”
So says Mufasa to his son, Simba, in Disney’s The Lion King. The more time that I spend in the field of conservation and environmental education, the stronger I see this truth. I write about backyard wildlife so much because I think it is easiest for us to connect with what we can physically see, hear, and touch. But it is important for us to remember that we are part of a global community and our actions have the power to impact wildlife from our own doorstep clear to the other side of the world.
This Saturday, I will be participating in a virtual half marathon. Thanks to the hard work of an amazing friend and co-worker, my run through my neighborhood will be helping cheetahs in Africa in their race against extinction. I will be running as part of Team Cheetah, working to raise money and awareness about these awesome animals.
Capable of reaching speeds of up to 70mph (imagine being able to run as fast as a car on the highway!), cheetahs work hard to survive each day. Not only do they face natural competition from other, much larger, predators, but there are growing threats from habitat loss as human populations grow, conflict with farmers, and poaching. Fortunately, so many people are working to help. Team Cheetah is running in support of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Based out of Namibia, this organization works on all fronts, from helping to protect lands, helping farmers protect livestock, and rehabilitating cheetahs rescued from wildlife trafficking.
If you would like to help support our team, you can donate here: Sara’s Team Cheetah Fundraising Page
Giving money isn’t the only way to support conservation efforts, though! So, if donating to a stranger’s fundraising page isn’t your thing, please take a moment to explore the Cheetah Conservation Fund website. You can learn more about cheetahs and the amazing work that CCF does, and keep spreading the word. Every little bit helps to get cheetahs across the finish line.
Stepping Outside 