Cheetah Conservation Fund

Category: Cheetah - Research, Cheetahs | Date: Oct 14 2008 | By: cheetahconservation

Hello! Sorry for the dealy in posting, but here is a quick date on the five released cheetahs. After nearly a month after their release, they moved over the mountains and were on a sheep farm, where they caught three prise sheep.

The cheetahs did eventually move out of the mountains and caught a kudu, however, it was collectively decided to dart the cheetahs and place them into the holding boma again. The boma has been extended to 50ha and the cheetahs will be re-released in November, after key staff is back on the reserve to monitor the release again.

In the meantime, we are eagerly awaiting the airing of the Channel 5 TV (UK) documentary filmed on site during the release. We will be posting that on our web site, www.cheetah.org as soon as we have a date.

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Category: Cheetahs | Date: Oct 14 2008 | By: cheetahconservation

Yesterday we had to euthanize a cheetah. The female, approx 3 years old, came in with a cub. She had been here since March, and was under rehabilitation after having been caught in a gin trap and obtaining multiple injuries. We had to amputate a toe, but because she had a cub, we hoped for the best. While undergoing several bandage changes, we realized she had also torn a knee ligament. We attempt two reconstructive surgeries. There was little to no improvement in her mobility. Her cub is now at an age where he can be put with two other younger adolescents. Unfortunately she could not survive in the wild. The decision was based on her quality of life.

The good news is that the three newborn cubs that came to CCF on 13th August are doing great. Look at them! They have been named Soraya (the girl - photo - center), Phoenix and Quasar (the boys)

The first name to be decided on was “Soraya” for “Little Girl”, this name was chosen by the lady who rescued the cubs from the farmer and gave them over to CCF. Soraya is the Persian name for the youthful nebulous star cluster that we know of as “the Pleiades” or “the Seven Sisters”. The former Iranian empress was named after this constellation. Thereby the theme for the names of the other siblings was decided, it was going to be something celestial and grandiose. “Phoenix” was chosen as this constellation has a name of a firebird from Greek mythologies. The Phoenix rises from the ashes after burning with its nest and is therefore a symbol of immortality and resurrection. This beautifully symbolizes the fact that the three siblings are alive and well despite the fact that the odds were stacked against them and that their life started where another one ended. The name “Phoenix” was given to “Face” as he is the darkest one and we associated his dark color with the ashes from which the Phoenix rises. We chose “Quasar” as the third name and gave it to “Tail”. Quasars are the most luminous objects in the known universe and correspond to distant light sources surrounding a powerful black hole.

The three little ones are growing stronger every day, as we grow more and more attached and more and more exhausted, but they are more than worth it! At each one of the up to 8 feedings a day we prepare their food, and stimulate them as their mother would to make them pee and poop. We wash + boil all the feeding utensils.

The cubs opened their eyes between day 5 and 6, and their first teeth appeared a couple of days later. They started crawling around more actively and at four weeks of age we moved them to a new room. To let them have some sunlight we would babysit them outdoors, either on the balcony or in an enclosure next to the office door. We were anxiously waiting for them to reach a month to be able to vaccinate them so they could have a little more freedom. Unfortunately when they were four weeks old, they developed digestive problems that turned out to be caused by a protozoan infection. We took care of this and although they did not gain weight during those days, they all recovered well and are starting to put on weight again. We vaccinated them on 20th September and they are already exploring the outdoors! Look at them on an explorating mission! Except for Phoenix, who has been fully sponsored, we are still looking for sponsors for Quasar and Soraya. You can sponsor them through our web site, www.cheetah.org, Sponsor a Cheetah section.

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