A woman from Kursi Village in Garissa County has drawn national attention after she rescued a stranded cheetah cub and raised it as her own for nearly two years.

According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the woman showed rare compassion by feeding, bathing, and even leashing the wild cat as if it were a domestic pet. Her actions were motivated by kindness, but they also highlighted the challenges of balancing love for animals with laws that protect wildlife.

Through its Community and Wildlife Service Division, KWS learned about the woman’s story and stepped in. Officers from the agency visited the home, where they safely took the cheetah into their care. The animal was later handed over to KWS veterinary experts, who carried out a full health assessment to ensure it was in good condition.

The veterinary team also collected laboratory samples and treated the cheetah for parasites before transferring it to the Nairobi Safari Walk. KWS said the animal is now under professional care and continues to thrive as part of its conservation and education efforts.

Cautions against domestication

While acknowledging the woman’s compassion, KWS reminded Kenyans that keeping wild animals at home is against the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (WCMA). The law protects wild species by ensuring they remain in their natural habitats, where they can live and reproduce freely.

“However, while her intentions were noble, keeping wildlife – even out of love – is against the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (WCMA), which protects wild animals and ensures their wellbeing in their natural habitats,” the agency said in a statement shared on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

Although Kenya has witnessed cases of people rescuing or finding orphaned cheetah cubs before, none has ever gone as far as rearing one for such a long period.

In most previous incidents, KWS has rescued abandoned or injured cubs soon after discovery, such as in 2021, when four cubs were found without their mother in Mandera County and taken to the Nairobi Animal Orphanage for care.