Posted on 20 March 2025
Vincent van der Merwe, a globally recognized South African conservationist and National Geographic Explorer, was found dead in his apartment in Riyadh.
As reported by Daily Maverick, he was known for his pivotal role in the transfer of cheetahs to India. His family announced on Facebook that he tragically took his own life on Sunday, the 16th of March.
Picture: Sourced
At 42, Van der Merwe was celebrated for his contributions to cheetah conservation and reintroduction efforts across Africa and Asia. He facilitated Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park in India.
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Reports from the Times of India indicate that his body was discovered in the hallway of his apartment building with a head injury, suggesting that it was not an accident.
At the time of his passing, Van der Merwe was collaborating with the Saudi Arabian government on a project aimed at reintroducing cheetahs, which had been locally extinct for over 50 years.
He had just extended his contract on this important conservation initiative last week.
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