The Famous Seven
Three famed cats
SAYING GOODBYE TO THREE OF AFRICAT’S FAMED CHEETAHS
Chinga was a six-month-old orphan cheetah cub when she came to Okonjima in 1989. The FIRST big cat the Hanssen Family saved! She was bought at a farmer’s auction for approx. N$200, and the reason the Hanssens felt sorry for her and felt they should save this poor cub, was because NO one placed a bid, and the owner told them; “that he most probably would have to put her down, for he does not want to keep her. He just did not know what else to bring to the auction to raise funds for the Namibian Independence elections”.
She was one of the primary influences in establishing the AfriCat Foundation and, together with her companions, Caesar and Chui, became very well known to guests at Okonjima for many years.
Also amongst the first cheetah orphans to be taken into AfriCat’s care, Tyke and Spike became a famous duo and were two of the six cheetahs released into AfriCat’s first large cheetah enclosure (sponsored by Richard and Diana Reynolds-Hale) over a decade ago.
In the last six months we have had to say a sad goodbye to three of these well-loved icons – Chinga, Chui and Tyke. Mature in age – seventeen, twelve and fourteen years respectively - all of them succumbed to kidney failure. Renal disease is often diagnosed in captive cheetahs, as well as domestic cats, especially in those of advanced years.
Chinga, Chui and Tyke are sorely missed. They will never be forgotten and will always have a special place in our hearts!
Carla Conradie
Elvis Hanssen
Elvis Hanssen joined Okonjima in 1988.
Confiscated by Nature Conservation from poor conditions in the North, he was brought to Okonjima to be released into one of the resident baboon troops. Wayne released Elvis among a troop, but when he returned to check on Elvis’ progress the next day, Elvis left the troop and ran to Wayne, refusing to go back.
Elvis had decided to join the Hanssen troop.
Elvis was with us for twelve eventful years. He was Wayne’s right hand man and would quickly leap to his defense if it seemed that Wayne was under attack. Amongst baboons, the males gradually achieve dominance over first the females and then over weaker males. Elvis echoed this behaviour, first dominating the Hanssen girls and then challenging the males. At the time of his death he was second only to Wayne whom he half-heartedly challenged every now and again.
With an interest in all things edible, Elvis was observed ‘surreptiously’ licking the acid off the top of car batteries and he had a soft spot for ice-cream. He could store food in his cheek pouches for ages, along with all sorts of interesting “goodies” he found around the lodge.
Retired from tourism in 1998, Elvis enjoyed a year free from tourism worries as he and Wayne supervised the construction of our 4000 Hectare Cheetah Rehabilitation Camp. On an inspection walk in July 1999, Wayne and Elvis were startled by a kudu. Always quick to react in the bush, the alarm bark of the kudu caused Elvis to jump away from the noise. The shock and the physical exertion brought on what we think was a heart attack and sadly Elvis passed away.
Appropriately, Elvis was buried on Okonjima – “Place of the baboon”.
WE MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY!
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Mike Tyson - the magnificent Leopard
He is the magnificent leopard appearing against a backdrop of the setting sun on glowing red rocks. TYSON - a famous face, an impressive physique and an unforgettable experience.
Tyson spent almost three-quarters of his life here on OKONJIMA. Arriving at Africat in 1991, he was placed in a holding area (5ha) from which he escaped. He wasn't seen again for the next 2 years when all of a sudden he came out of
hiding - whether he had remained on Okonjima during this time or returned from elsewhere is unknown.
In January 2001 he was radio-collared and released into the 4000ha (10 000acre) game park. Although frequently monitored, he chose to stay out of the limelight once his son TJ took over - and only showed himself on few occasions. In September 2004, a mortality signal from his collar led us to him for the very last time.
At 20yrs of age the life of a legend had come to an end, but fond memories of Tyson will remain, and for us the legend will live forever. CC Africa have him on their Londolozi brochure, called "Leopards of Londolozi". "Nomad Overland Safaris" have him as their flagship leopard.
Paul Goldstein www.exodus.co.uk writes of Tyson:
I am desolate about this, as I am sure you all are at Okonjima. I know one shouldn't get too emotional about an animal that has lived for a fine innings but he was not only a huge part of your furniture but also a predator of such character and resilience that he really does leave a large hole.
11 years ago (yes that long ago) I first encountered this magnificent leopard and the photo I took that late afternoon still hangs on my wall at home - it will remain there. he could be described as many things: a character, an enigma, a mighty beast, a meal ticket, a beautiful predator but whatever the pragmatic sobriquet given, he was and will remain a legend.
PIGGY
In April 2007 we said farewell to` PIGGY`. We sadly had to put our dear old piggy down. He had lost his eye-sight and arthritis had crippled him. Piggy was 16 or 17 years old – a unique age for a warthog.
Piggy – who’s original name was ‘Nympho’, joined us end 1990 with his brother ‘Scitzo’ and the cheetah Caesar – all coming from a neighboring lodge who had changed management and did not want these 3 animals in cages. Both Nympho and Scitzo were release a month after arriving on Okonjima. Caesar the cheetah, sadly had to join our welfare project and could not be released for there was no rehabilitation project running in those early days. He later became one of the ‘famous 3’ – Chinga, Chui and Caesar use to appear on the lawn around the lodge on a daily basis, until the pressure of ‘human demand’ became to much and they were retired to a larger area – away from tourists.
Back to Piggy - Mother Rose, did not agree with the name Nympho – so she changed it to Piggy, who immediately once freed, made the garden and the lodge surroundings, his territory. After some time he even pushed his brother out of the lodge surroundings, but Scitzo did not disappear completely and was often found around the nite hide where he was given the TLC he demanded.
Both warthogs were castrated, and because they were not kept in captivity, never showed any sign of aggression around people. However when you did find them in the bush, they did somehow seem ‘wilder’ and a lot more nervous.
Piggy was one of the most treasured animals around the lodge, lying at the fire on a cold night until late, keeping our guests company. Hundreds of pictures were taken of him, especially when he was given his ‘plate of breakfast’ every morning. ‘The plate’ – being a large bronze tea-tray, one of the only items Dad inherited from his 2 rich spinster aunts. . .
BRAT the Okonjima fox-terrier
During March 2008 – we sadly had to say good-by to BRAT - the only domestic dog that was ever seen around Main Camp! Brat was rescued from a family who treated him very badly and who added him to the ‘package’ when we collected `Dracula` the brown Hyaena in December 1992.
Nature Conservation found a family in Henties Bay that was keeping a little Hyaena pup in their garage – and when we arrived to confiscate the Hyaena from them – they told us that it had befriended a ‘dog’ and that the two had become inseparable and therefore we decided to save little Brat as well. Brat never feared any of the animals that roamed the garden in the good ol`days, but was regularly teased by Elvis the Baboon.
