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Ben Forbes: Notes from the Field
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Brave New World at Okonjima

Over the last 17 years the AfriCat Foundation has rescued over 1000 cheetahs and leopards that have been trapped as a result of human/wildlife conflict on farmlands in Namibia. Over 85% of these big cats have been returned to the wild. As with most animal rescue programmes there are those individuals that cannot be released immediately. Injured as well as orphaned cheetahs and leopards, too young to be on their own in the wild without their mothers, are taken into AfriCat’s care.

AfriCat’s large carnivore rehabilitation programme was initiated in 2000 to give some of their captive cheetahs an opportunity to return to their natural environment. This began with a relatively humble 4,000 hectare rehabilitation reserve which was funded by the TUSK Trust. Ten years later and the fencing of a 22,000 hectare reserve area at Okonjima has now been completed. This protected wilderness enables AfriCat to expand and accelerate its rehabilitation programme with the ultimate aim of returning more large carnivores to the wild.
This week will see the very first group of cheetah released into their new world and begin their journey back to the wild. Tomorrow they will be given a thorough final check by the veterinary team and Wednesday is independence day!

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