Welcome Duma and Ingwe!

THABAZIMBI – Two elderly female cheetahs from De Wildt Cheetah and Wild Life Trust recently found a new home on the the farm Koedoesfontein, 20 km from Thabazimbi on the Dwaalboom road. The two cheetahs, renamed Duma (Swahili for “cheetah”) and Ingwe (seTswana for “spotted cat”) by Koedoesfontein staff, were in the breeding programme at De Wildt, well-known cheetah breeding centre near Brits. Born and bred in captivity, Ingwe and Duma were relocated to surroundings similar to what they were used to at De Wildt. Ingwe and Duma, both about nine years old, have more or less been moved to an old age home. Since they are too old to breed they will be spending the rest of their years in comfort at Koedoesfontein where they will be fed and looked after, and probably looked at by visitors. They were put in two separate camps, specially built for them by owner Harbinder Sethi, since females are naturally solitary animals. Here they are expected to live to the ripe old age of fourteen, compared to a life span of 10 years in the wild. Even though bred in captivity one remains acutely aware of the fact that these are wild animals and should be treated as such. Just prior to release all sorts of growling, catlike noises were coming from especially Ingwe’s cage, a definite indication that being cooped up in a little transport box was not her cup of tea. Where Duma slowly and seemingly uncertainly moved out, Ingwe was out in a flash, inspecting her new home and boundaries. Ansie Engelbrecht, handler, went for a day’s training at De Wildt where she learnt how to care for them. When the cheetahs were released she was shown how to approach them, stick in hand. Ansie said she would appreciate any help in feeding the cheetahs. Each cheetah needs a daily portion of about 3kg of meat (including bones and fat). Anyone with meat available can let her know at (014) 777-1835/1108 or 083-785-2542. Ingwe and Duma were properly settled in their new camps by De Wildt staff Anne van Dyk (founder of De Wildt), Alan Strachan , curator at De Wildt and Gerrit Snyman of De Wildt-Shingwedzi Wild Life Ranch near Bela-Bela. According to Anne they were happy to find such a good retirement home for Duma and Ingwe, since limited space and resources at De Wildt, make it difficult to keep on all the cheetahs after their breeding roles have been fulfilled. They remain the property of De Wildt, however, and their condition will be monitored on regular visits to Koedoesfontein. Their relationship with Mr Sethi has come along since 2006 when farm manager Willem Engelbrecht contacted De Wildt about wild cheetahs preying on settled game at Koedoesfontein. Through De Wildt’s Wild Cheetah Project, three wild cheetahs were caught and collared and rereleased on Koedoesfontein. According to researcher Kelly Marnewick at De Wildt in many cases farmers wrongly accuse cheetahs for game loss. Cheetahs are classified as vulnerable in the Red Data Book for mammals and less than 270 breeding females still exist in South Africa. Altogether an estimated 1400 individuals can be found in South Africa, of which 300 are found in protetected areas, 500 in breeding programmes and 600 in communal and commercial farming areas. Mr Sethi received a “Farmer of the Year” reward from De Wildt on Saturday 1 December for his contribution to research and conservation of wild cheetahs. According to researcher Kelly Marnewick Thabazimbi is the core area for research and conservation of wild cheetahs and so far lots of support has been found amongst local farmers, such as Hans Jeurissen (Silent Valley), Atherstone Nature Reserve, Merriepan and Phala Ranch.