By Don Pinnock
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 20, 2025 (ENS) – Globally renowned South African conservationist and National Geographic Explorer, Vincent van der Merwe, who organised the transfer of cheetahs to India, was found dead in his apartment in Riyadh. No foul play is suspected.
A Facebook post from Van der Merwe’s family reads, “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Vincent van der Merwe, a beloved brother, dedicated conservationist and tireless advocate for cheetah conservation. Vincent sadly took his own life on Sunday, 16 March.”
The 42-year-old conservationist was internationally recognised for his role in cheetah conservation and reintroduction projects in Africa and Asia. He had played a crucial role in facilitating Project Cheetah at India’s Kuno National Park.
According to the Times of India, Van der Merwe’s body was found in the hallway of his apartment building with a head injury, his head having struck the floor. The family Facebook posts indicate it was not an accident.
He was working with the government of Saudi Arabia as manager of its project to reintroduce cheetahs which once thrived there, but became locally extinct more than 50 years ago. Last week, he extended his contract in Saudi for another year.
In 2022, Van der Merwe oversaw the relocation of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa to India. After much legal wrangling, the introduction was approved by the Supreme Court of India in 2020, then by the Namibian and South African governments.
It soon hit controversy when cheetahs in unfenced Kuno Park began dying for various reasons, others escaping into surrounding villages and farmland.
At the time, Van der Merwe told Daily Maverick that relocation was important because South Africa had a surplus of cheetahs.
“We would have to euthanise or contracept them, neither of which is optimal. So relocating is a good idea.”
“There are definitely a lot of ambitious people involved enjoying the media attention,” he added, “but it’s also been a dream for many high-profile Indian conservationists.”
He had no illusions about the difficulty of the relocation.
“It’s gonna be one hell of an uphill battle, there are going to be massive losses initially. But, you know, we’ll learn. We hope that within 10 years we could have some form of population growth in India, but certainly, within the first 10 years of this project, there is going to be a lot of heartache and pain.”
As the cheetah metapopulation coordinator for Endangered Wildlife Trust, Van der Merwe monitored a database of cheetah populations on 68 reserves and national parks across southern Africa. His work was funded by the National Geographic Society.
“Vincent was the cheetah’s best friend and he was my best friend, too,” said Dr. Nejat Jimmy Seid, a veterinarian and species expert from Somaliland working with Vincent in Saudi Arabia. “He will be missed by the many, many people whose lives he touched.”
Born in 1983 in South Africa, Van der Merwe’s passion for wildlife led him to a distinguished career in conservation biology. As founding director of The Metapopulation Initiative (TMI), he coordinated efforts to manage and expand cheetah populations across fragmented habitats. His work was instrumental in the successful reintroduction of cheetahs to various reserves, enhancing genetic diversity and species survival.
Kulani Nyakane, TMI Cheetah Metapopulation Manager, posted on Facebook, “The Metapopulation Initiative team is devastated by the heartbreaking news of the passing of our founder, Vincent van der Merwe. We are at a loss for words as we remember a true friend, colleague, researcher, explorer, and a kind and generous human being. Vinny was not only an avocado farmer but also a visionary conservationist – an exceptional champion for Cheetah conservation in South Africa and beyond.”
Most knew him simply as “Vinny”a relentless force in Cheetah metapopulation management. No challenge was too great for him. From countless emails and meticulous planning to executing reintroductions, rewilding efforts, and population management, he poured his heart into every endeavor. Failure was never an end for him—it was just fuel to push harder and persist until success was achieved.
Cheetah conservation in South Africa thrives today because of his unwavering dedication. But Vinny’s legacy is far from over. His knowledge, passion, and commitment have spread across Africa, Asia, and Saudi Arabia, ensuring that his impact will continue for generations.”
“I was devastated by the news today,” veterinary wildlife specialist at Pretoria University Adrian Tordiffe told the Times of India. “Vincent was a legend. We had some differences of opinion, but I cannot think of anyone who will fill his shoes. He brought so much energy to cheetah conservation and he will be desperately missed.”
The cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is the world’s fastest mammal, and is endemic to the savannahs of Africa, according to South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
While southern Africa is the cheetah’s regional stronghold, it is considered to be a species that is Vulnerable to extinction under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, and is listed in CITES Appendix I as protected from international trade.
Worldwide, cheetah numbers have declined from an estimated 15,000 adults in 1975 to a current global population of less than 7,000. In South Africa, the transition to democracy and the Game Theft Act of 1991 was responsible for a shift in land use from agriculture to ecotourism. Since 1994 cheetahs have been reintroduced into 63 newly established game reserves that now support a combined metapopulation of 460 individuals.
South Africa’s Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment has approved the export of up to 29 wild cheetah each year to support conservation efforts for the species elsewhere in the world.
The University of Cape Town’s Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa offers insight into Van der Merwe’s early life.
His upbringing on an avocado farm in Limpopo triggered an interest in all things biological. After school he completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Entomology through the University of Pretoria, specialising in the genetics of chafer beetles.
On completion of his military service, Van der Merwe worked as safari guide, ecological consultant, and biology teacher in Mozambique. In anticipation of the 2010 Football World Cup, he relocated to the University of Cape Town to complete an MSc degree on the biogeography of terrestrial game birds.
Van der Merwe was employed as cheetah metapopulation co-ordinator in 2011. When he realised the potential of the managed metapopulation approach to conserve wild cheetah populations, he decided to pursue a PhD on the subject.
Van der Merwe was named a National Geographic Explorer in 2014. He was the recipient of the 2017 South African National Parks Kudu Award for Individual Contribution to Conservation.
[Editor’s Note: The majority of this report was first published in South Africa’s Daily Maverick newspaper, March 19, 2025. Republished with permission. Additional facts have been added for historical completeness.}
Featured image: Cheetah scientist and conservationist Vincent van der Merwe, South Africa, 2025. (Photo supplied)
