Cheetah Expert to Speak at The Mountain Winery

Cheetahs are the most endangered of all big cats in Africa. There are only about 10,000 left in the world. Dr. Laurie Marker is a boots-on-the-ground conservation biologist originally from California who makes her home in Otjiwarongo, Namibia, a town known as “The Cheetah Capital of the World” thanks to her tireless efforts to bring attention to this species’ plight. Dr. Marker is traveling to the U.S. in September and October to spread the word so people can help prevent this iconic species from becoming extinct. She is the Executive Director of Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Dr. Marker did not set out to become a crusader for the cheetah. Originally, she wanted to be a winemaker, studying viticulture and oenology in college and joining the Oregon wine industry in the early 1970s. She took a job working at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Ore. to support her winemaking career and pay her bills. There she met her first cheetah, instantly fell in love, and decided to instead devote her life to becoming the cheetah’s champion.

She’s gone on spend the last 40+ years in the field gathering scientific data and implementing conservation programs that help people, wildlife, and the habitat coexist in harmony. She’s earned a DPhil in Zoology from Oxford University and won almost every major award given in the field of conservation.

Ironically, a few years ago Laurie planted grapevines on CCF’s 100,000-acre model farm in Namibia, and more recently has become one of four founding members of the Namibian Wine Association. It’s almost as if her life has come full circle.

Laurie is giving a presentation at The Mountain Winery on September 20, 2014 called Cheetah Live! How to Save an Endangered Species.

Time: 11:30am - 2:30pm

Price: $125 ages 20+; $75 ages 13 - 20; $50 for children under 13 years old