Cheetah Project Update

I’m so proud to have been working with our amazing conservation team, The Kariega Foundation, located on the stunning Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa, for almost five years now. Our conservation efforts have been largely focused on leopard conservation, but for the last year, has expanded to focus on cheetah conservation too.

One of the first two cheetahs to be released onto Kariega Game Reserve

When I visited Kariega last year, I had the most wonderful honour of being present for the release of the first ever cheetahs onto the reserve. It was such a special moment and so wonderful to witness.

Me with the first ever cheetahs on Kariega Game Reserve shortly before they were released from their holding enclosure

Those two males that were released almost a year ago, in collaboration with Ashia Cheetah Conservation, are thriving and doing well. Not only is that good news enough, but now one of them has become a father! A female was released shortly after the males, and she gave birth to four precious little cubs earlier this year. Sadly, at the time of writing this, there are only two cubs left. Cheetah cub mortality is one of the highest amongst all big cats, and we are unsure what happened to the two missing babies. As sad as it is to have lost two, it is not uncommon. Luckily the remaining two are thriving and looking strong and healthy. Check out our Instagram post here to see them playing (swipe to slide 2 for the video) and a photo of the precious two below.

Our babies! Photo by senior guide and photographer Brendon Jennings

This is a massive win for the conservation of this species, Africa’s most threatened big cat. With numbers down to just 7,000 total, we need all the help we can get to help support these amazing spotted cats. If you would like to contribute towards our conservation efforts, click here to donate now, or read more about our projects here.