Cheetahs Named After Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Welcome Rescued Cubs

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Rescue Cheetahs “Taylor Swift” & “Travis Kelce” Welcome New Cubs

By Your Name — Aug 30, 2025

Heartwarming rescue news from Somaliland: cheetahs already known as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce — both rescued from the illegal pet trade — have taken in a new litter of orphaned cubs. Animal-care teams from The Living Desert Zoo and the Cheetah Conservation Fund helped stabilize and care for the newly rescued cubs. Sources: People, AP, CCF.

Newly rescued cheetah cub receiving care at the rescue centre. Image credit: The Living Desert / CCF (swap in your image credit)

What happened?

Donations and protection teams recently helped transfer a group of one-week-old cheetah cubs into the Cheetah Rescue & Conservation Centre in Somaliland. The rescued cubs were victims of the illegal wildlife pet trade and required round-the-clock care, including bottle feedings, medication, and socialization. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Who are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (the cheetahs)?

“Taylor Swift” is the female cub that CCF rescued earlier in the year; caretakers named her to raise awareness (the name honors the star’s love of cats). “Travis Kelce” is a playful male cub who bonded closely with Taylor at the centre — staff said the two are almost inseparable. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Why this rescue matters

Conservationists warn that each year hundreds of cheetah cubs are stolen from East Africa for sale as exotic pets. Recent large rescue operations (including one that saved 10 cubs in mid-August) highlight the scale of the problem and the urgent need for enforcement and awareness. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Conservation teams involved

Experts from The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (California) traveled to the Somaliland centre to assist with feedings, health checks, and socialization of the cubs—work that's critical to their survival. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) runs the rescue centre and continues to spearhead anti-trafficking efforts. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Playtime at the rescue: cheetah cubs bonding with resident cubs like “Taylor Swift” and “Travis Kelce.” Image credit: CCF / The Living Desert.

Watch: short video

Below is a related short video covering the story (community / news upload). If the embedded video is blocked in your region, open the video page to view it directly.

How you can help

• Support reputable conservation groups such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund (donate or adopt a cub sponsorship).
• Raise awareness about the illegal wildlife trade — share verified reporting rather than reposting unverified sales posts.
• Report suspicious wildlife sale posts to local authorities and platforms that host such listings.

Learn more / Sponsor a cheetah

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Short note: some images and footage are provided by The Living Desert and CCF; please respect copyright and use images only with permission or a proper credit. For the best presentation replace placeholders above with the images you prefer and host them on your site or your image CDN.

Reporting & sources:

• People magazine — “Cheetahs Named After Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Just Welcomed a Litter of 1-Week-Old Cubs.” :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• People — background on Taylor & Travis cheetah cub stories. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• AP News — large-scale cheetah rescues in Somaliland and trafficking context. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) blog / posts.

Image credits: The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, Cheetah Conservation Fund, People / AP (use exact credit shown on the source image when publishing).