​This is to inform you our lovely partners that CCB will be closed from the 23rd December 2016 and reopening on the 9th January 2017. It has been an exciting and eventful year for all of us and let us thank and appreciate you, our stakeholders and supporters.....we couldn’t have done it without your support and patience. Reflecting back and going forward, let us appreciate the abundance of wildlife we have in Botswana, let us remember that these precious wildlife needs us to help them survive, let us all come together and work towards protecting our natural resources and help keep our carnivore species far from the endangered species list. We wish you a happy and joyful holiday season and season’s greetings for 2017!

We have come to the end of the year and must say that CCB Education department had an overwhelming year. Closing the year, CCB had Jwaneng Teen Club join in for a fun-packed week at Ghanzi Tiisano Camp from the 28th to 2nd December 2016 with 26 students and 7 facilitators. CCB had a busy but fun schedule ready for the kids. Kick starting the bush camp was a bird walk with Birdlife Botswana’s representative, Mr. Kevin Grant where the students got to learn about the different bird species found around camp.  Class room activities included lessons on Ecology by CCB’s Education Coordinator, Mrs. Jane Horgan where students got to learn about the importance of ecology, food chain, habitats and many more as well as lessons on Botswana’s Wildlife by CCB’s new Education Officer, Mr. Goabaone Malepe and students enjoyed the discussions on carnivores found in Botswana. Outdoor activities included the Food Web game and swimming lessons by CCB’s Assistant Management Intern, Ms. Tshegofatso Mmusi. Wrapping up the week was a visit to Tautona Lodge for a game walk where students got to see the lions and a visit to Thakadu Bush Camp where Mr. Dumisani taught the students about vultures before visiting the vulture restaurant. Ending the day was an authentic, adventurous and informative guided bush walk with San people. To walk with these Bushmen and witness their skills as gatherers and trackers firsthand, is a revelation not easily forgotten. These gentle people shared information of their ancient culture and how they used to live and survived in these arid areas. They shared their knowledge of making fire without lighters as well as the fauna and flora of the Kalahari. CCB would like to thank students and facilitators of the Jwaneng Teen Club as they enjoyed hosting them and hope they will spread the word on conservation especially conservation of the continuously decreasing numbers of cheetahs in Botswana.

​The International Cheetah Day is an annual celebration on the 4th December, which is a way of bringing awareness to the plight of the cheetah, as Africa's most endangered big cat. With approximately 7,000 cheetahs remaining in the wild, spreading throughout sub - Saharan Africa, the species has reached its tipping point. The last solid populations lie within Botswana and Namibia, with a few spilling into South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Around 2000 cheetahs reside in Botswana, making it one of the last strongholds for the species. Our message this year is to encourage all, young and old to remember that cheetahs, along with every other species, have a role to play in the ecosystem.  If we don't act now to address this problem together, the species may be forced into extinction and that, will be a huge loss to us and our future generations. At CCB, we are working around the clock to close the knowledge and information gap within our people. We are working hard by integrating our triple approach of research, community outreach and conservation education to spread the conservation word on the importance of a healthy ecosystem, and how it relates to securing a healthy future for people, livestock and wildlife. Let us start taking those first steps towards coexistence by working together to find ways that can mitigate the conflict between human and wildlife species. Let us have hope and take note of the International Cheetah Day from this day on going forward!