Just In : Cheetah named Taylor Swift recovering after being rescued in illegal wildlife pet trade.

Ayoung cheetah cub named after Taylor Swift is thankfully recovering after being rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade in the Horn of Africa, but why is it named after the star singer?

The cub is currently being cared for at the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre in Somaliland, where she is thriving under professional rehabilitation and is regaining her strength.

The cub was taken at just a few weeks old by traffickers attempting to smuggle her into the exotic pet market. At the time of her rescue by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), the animal weighed barely three pounds, comparable to a domestic kitten.

Fortunately, she was intercepted before she could be sold and has since been nursed back to health following her rescue, where the cheetah cub was transferred to CCF’s wildlife reserve in Somaliland.

The new facility spans 1,800 acres and includes enclosures ranging from 5 to 12 acres, designed to provide a naturalistic environment for rescued cheetahs. Here, the cub began touch training as part of the recovery process for young animals.

“[The training] is essential to desensitize cubs to the gentle touch,” Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF founder and executive director said. “Since Taylor will begin her vaccine regime soon.

“It may not be the Eras tour, but so far Taylor’s training has been very successful.”