In October 2022 I was in discussions with ACT regarding the cheetah numbers and collars required. The success of the cheetah program had created it’s own set of problems. The initial animals which had been released into the reserve were needing their collars to be replaced and their offspring were needing their first as they were nearly fully grown. In all, 15 new GPS collars were required urgently! The Foundation asked that I visit the park and assess the situation and get some PR material.
Chris had warned me that the chances of coming upon a cheetah suitable for darting, having a veterinary officer available and the only suitable collar on site was slim. Too many wild cards had to be in play. That evening, sitting around the camp fire, Tegan, the ACT monitor came to me and said that a young female had killed at last light, the chances of her to remain with her meal to first thing in the morning was good, and we had to get the collar to the team by first light—a 2 hours drive South.
Lady luck smiled upon us. The drive—starting at 3.30 in the morning—was memorable in itself with two separate black rhino sightings and a beautiful female leopard who posed for us in the spotlight. Before dawn we had reached the team. The female cheetah had remained with her meal, the darting, collaring and drug reversal was textbook and the whole operation a huge success. 14 collars to go!
It is only through the generosity of donors and the professionalism of ACT and Ezemvelo officers that the cheetah population in Zululand has risen like the Phoenix.
