editor
In a quiet village in Garissa County, northeastern Kenya, a story of compassion has captured hearts across the country. A local woman who rescued a helpless cheetah cub and raised it like her own child has had to say goodbye, as wildlife authorities stepped in to relocate the animal to a protected facility in Nairobi.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the woman found the tiny cub nearly two years ago, alone and weak near her homestead. Fearing it would die, she brought it home, feeding it with milk and later with meat as it grew stronger. Over time, the cheetah became part of the household — eating, sleeping, and even playing under her care, just like a family pet.
Neighbors say the two shared a remarkable bond. The woman often spoke to the cheetah as though it were her own child, calling it by a name she had lovingly given. Videos and photos that surfaced online show the big cat resting peacefully beside her, a sight that amazed many who had never seen such closeness between a human and a wild predator.
But that bond came to an emotional end when officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service arrived at her home earlier this week. Acting under the country’s wildlife protection laws, they explained that wild animals cannot legally be kept as pets, even when rescued with good intentions.
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KWS officers conducted a full medical check-up on the cheetah, taking samples for laboratory analysis and administering preventive treatment for parasites before transferring it to the Nairobi Safari Walk.
KWS commended the woman for her compassion but emphasized that wild animals belong in the wild, not in domestic spaces. “We appreciate her kindness,” one officer said, “but cheetahs need specialized care and an environment that mirrors their natural habitat.”
For the woman, watching the animal she had nursed back to health being taken away was a painful moment. “It felt like losing a child,” she told local reporters, holding back tears. “I only wanted to save its life.”
The story has since sparked national debate about the delicate balance between human kindness and wildlife conservation. Many Kenyans praised the woman’s courage and empathy, while conservation experts urged the public to report any injured or stranded animals to authorities rather than trying to keep them.
At its new home in Nairobi, the cheetah is said to be adjusting well. Wildlife experts believe it will gradually regain its natural instincts through supervised rehabilitation.
