Embracing the Wild: Kenyan Family Adopts Orphaned Cheetah Cub

Sat Oct 25 2025 18:05:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A heartwarming story from northern Kenya, where a family has adopted an orphaned cheetah cub, challenging local perceptions towards wildlife.

In a remarkable act of compassion, a Kenyan family in Wajir County adopted an orphaned cheetah cub, raising it alongside their children despite local opposition. The cub, which they found next to its deceased mother, has become an integral part of their family. Their decision reflects a broader conservation message amidst growing threats to wildlife in the region, highlighting both the challenges and joys of human-animal coexistence.

A Kenyan family has shared their touching journey of adopting a cheetah cub they discovered lying next to its deceased mother. Although their neighbors in Wajir County expressed concern about raising a wild animal, the family refused to abandon the cub, believing it was unjust.

The Somali-speaking community heavily relies on livestock, which often falls prey to wild predators, making their choice to keep the cheetah controversial. Rashid Abdi Hussein, the father of the household, noted that many urged them to get rid of the cub to protect their farming livelihood, but he felt the need to foster a different relationship with wildlife.

For over two years, the family nurtured the cub, initially offering milk via syringe and later meat. They even sacrificed numerous sheep to sustain the growing cheetah, seeing the animal as a member of their family. Despite their hardship, they turned down offers of money for the cub, which had become a beloved companion to their children.

Their responsible treatment of the cub has garnered praise from the Kenya Wildlife Service, highlighting the increasing threats wild animals face from poaching and habitat loss. Conservation advocates warn that the trafficking of cubs is rampant, putting species like the cheetah at grave risk. While the family’s actions are commendable, keeping wild animals as pets is illegal in Kenya, a law intended to protect both wildlife and communities. The adopted cheetah is now being cared for at the Nairobi Safari Walk.