The Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre at Geed Deeble, Somaliland, is an 800 hectare rehabilitation facility for sick, injured and orphaned cheetah cubs.
The cubs in their care are often confiscated from illegal wildlife traders by the government Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC). Additionally, persecution from livestock farmers – who sometimes erroneously suspect a cheetah of predation – frequently leads to orphaned cubs.
Operated by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) – whose founder Dr. Laurie Marker is a research scientist and conservation biologist – the centre is home to 100 cheetahs. With an estimated 6000 animals left in the world the cheetah – the world’s fastest land animal – is classified as Vulnerable.
Exotic animal traders often seize cheetah cubs when they just weeks or a few months old. Sometimes injured during capture and often malnourished, most will require long term veterinary care. Even as adults, they can never be released back into the wild.
Wilderness electricity?
Until three months ago the facility was powered by two generators running a day and night shift at a cost of $4000US in fuel alone, but a new solar power installation now provides 98% of their substantial power requirements.
The walk-in freezer for the storage of feed-carcasses contribute to peak loads of 30kW – ambient temperatures in Somaliland are 35°C. Also, water has to be pumped via three kilometres of piping to serve six 10,000 litre tanks.
Solar Power – silent, reliable, free.
The solar power system which was installed by SolarLandAfrica comprises of 112 solar panels offering 50kWp. Energy is harvested by four SmartSolar MPPT RS 450/200 solar charge controllers. These high-voltage devices are ideal for controlling large solar arrays and can be daisy-chained for synchronised battery charging from extensive solar arrays. Each RS 450/200 device has four solar trackers on board.
Power is stored in forty 5.12kWh lithium batteries offering a total capacity of 204.8kWh. Six Quattro Inverter/Chargers are configured to provide 3-phase 90kVA power output. (It is possible to parallel connect up to four sets of three Quattro devices to provide a maximum 180kVA).
Remote system monitoring and control – with VRM
SolarLandAfrica are able to monitor and program this system remotely via the free-to-use internet based platform Victron Remote Management (VRM).
Instant engineering access using VRM provides historic analysis of each device; firmware updating; and fine tuning of program settings to ensure optimal power harvest and storage. Access can be gained from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
Remote access to this and any other installation is facilitated using a GX communication centre device – in this case a Cerbo GX – which harmonises data communication across the system comprising Victron and third-party devices.
The off-grid power infrastructure easily meets the demand from high-start up and power draw equipment – such as the welding machine. The 15kVA Quattro inverters are each capable of providing a peak power output of 25000W.
Outreach Education program for schools and livestock farmers
The CRCC conduct outreach education programs to educate pupils and livestock farmers about the dangers and discrimination Cheetahs face. Farmers who lose livestock may suspect cheetahs of predation – sometimes erroneously – and as a result attempt to eradicate them from the area. The CRCC demonstrate how it is possible to identify the predator from the remaining carcass – which may show that, in fact, a Cheetah was not responsible for the kill.
CRCC can also help farmers protect their livestock by integrating Anatolian Shepherd Dogs with the herd – they are large, bark loudly, and make very effective guard dogs against predation.
Current expansion of the cheetah conservation site will provide more extensive visitor facilities requiring additional power provision; education facilities are also being expanded. The modular nature of the power installation allows it to be extended at any time.
I don’t remember putting that in there…
Some confusion arose when a Speckled Sand Racer snake – whose skin closely resembles the colour coding of electric cable – took a nap in one of the wiring conduit pipes. I think we can all empathise with installers SolarLandAfrica who took hold of what they thought was a cable only to find that it was ‘live’.
The Speckled Sand Racer is not aggressive and only mildly venous; the sting from a wasp being more painful. Apparently.
You can follow the news from the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre on their Facebook page.
You can support the Cheetah Conservation fund’s work using this link.
The Cheetah headline image for this article is by courtesy of Helen Black Photography.
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