Eleven cheetah cubs were rescued from illegal trade in Somaliland in what a conservationist described on Thursday as "one of the largest confiscations of the species."

The cubs were packed in bags that resembled sacks of potatoes and were being transported in a small dhow off the Somaliland coast at Berbera when the local coast guard intercepted them on Sunday.

Two locals and three Yemenis were arrested during the rescue operation, and the cheetahs were taken to a rescue center owned by the Cheetah Conservation Fund, or CCF.

In a social medial post , CCF said its staff "worked around the clock to stabilize the cubs - and are continuing to rehabilitate the cats." The group also released photos of some of the animals.

Snapshots of a #cheetah rescue in Somaliland. 🐾 These cubs were p

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