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to Newsflash main page AfriCat Rehabilitated cheetahs: Large radio-collars
AfriCat Rehabilitated cheetahs: New, smaller radio-collars
APOLLO & ARTEMIS Our very own
Greek Gods – These 2 cheetahs were part of a group of 4 siblings (Zeus & Athena
were the other 2) who were deprived of the chance to learn hunting
as well as life skills from their mother. She was shot, leaving
them orphaned at the age of six months. Too young to be released
on their own, they came into AfriCat’s care in February 2001. MORE BACKGROUND INFO ON THE 2 MAIN CHEETAHS THAT HAVE ENTERTAINED OUR GUESTS DURING THIS SEASON! During the surgery to implant 'temperature data loggers', the 'Greek Gods' were also fitted with radio-collars, enabling daily monitoring of health and condition, as well as observation of behaviour and hunting successes. After surgery they were placed in a holding-camp adjacent to the rehabilitation area, where we could watch them closely for any complications that may have arisen. Two weeks later (middle October 2005) we opened the gate and coaxed them out with food. All of them stayed fairly close to the release point for the first four days, with Athena moving off from her siblings from the start and only rejoining them again on the fourth day. Together they ventured a little further a field and settled down in an area in the south-west corner, where they remained for just over a week. Had this group remained in the wild they would have split up not long after their mother had left them, which is usually around the age of eighteen months. Adult female cheetahs are solitary, while male siblings may choose to go off on their own or stay together as a coalition or "brother group". Given time these siblings may still exhibit this natural social behaviour but, after the first five weeks, there have only been two other occasions when the four haven’t been seen together. From these observations it appears that the separations have not been intentional, as the times spent apart were fairly brief and the distances between the separated individuals and the rest of the group were relatively short. It may have been possible that the four were catching small prey in between the observation periods, but nothing that made a significant impact on the size of their stomachs. In comparison to the previous two groups released into the rehabilitation area, these cheetahs took longer to exhibit any from of hunting behaviour and have therefore required more 'supplementary feeds'. Slight hunger obviously provides more of an incentive to at least initiate hunting behaviour but the cheetahs also need sufficient energy to chase and catch the prey they require to sustain themselves. It is difficult to determine the frequency, timing and quantity of supplementary feeds to maintain the right balance. The first kill observed, a scrub hare, was lead by Artemis; hardly a square meal for four cheetahs, but it was a start. Just as we were thinking that the hare had been pure luck and the Greek Gods weren’t ever going to cotton on to what they were supposed to do, they caught a steenbok. Although this presented a slightly larger meal, it still wasn’t enough to sustain them for very long, but it was quickly devoured with not a scrap of meat left. Ten days later they caught another steenbok. Just as we started wondering what we were going to do with these 4, it looked as if the penny had finally dropped. Within two days Zeus, Apollo, Athena and Artemis had caught a steenbok and a female kudu, but it had taken them over a month before they were independent and did not need our help. SADLY ZEUS & ATHENA DID NOT MAKE IT Orphaned at an early age, these cats have missed out on all that they should have learnt from their mother while growing up – not only hunting skills and techniques but the essential "life-skills" needed to survive in the wild. These cheetahs can now only learn these "life-skills" by way of experience; lessons often being hard and unfortunately, sometimes fatal. Knowing which other predators to avoid and when to back off and relinquish hard-earned prey are just two of the lessons they have had to learn so far during their rehabilitation. It was during one of these situations that Zeus, confronting a leopard in an attempt to guard the siblings’ recently-caught impala, was seriously injured (Dec 2005). The leopard bite caused severe damage to the spine. After various treatments and medications the paralysis to his hind-legs was found to be permanent and sadly we had him put down. Apollo seemed to be the only one to miss Zeus, calling for him for about three days, but the siblings continued to hunt successfully as before. Just over two weeks later Athena had to be darted and taken to the vet. She had injured her front left paw quite badly, the wound requiring stitches. Confined to a small camp to recuperate she was darted again three days later so that the bandage could be removed. The wound was healing well until she pulled out all the stitches and had to return to the vet. Second time round the bandage was kept on for a week, which seemed to do the trick and Athena was reunited with her siblings in the rehabilitation area in the middle of January 2006. A couple of hours later she ventured off on her own and hunted solo ever since, coping well. November 2006 she was fatally wounded by a leopard, but what a spirit she had! The surviving 2 cheetahs have been one of the most successful rehabilitated cheetahs we have ever reintroduced back into the wild. After their shaky start they have become professional killers and have most importantly learnt to stay away from the territorial leopards in the park! THIS research is vital for the future of the cheetah, especially for the many cheetah orphans that now may get a second chance to live a natural life and HELP keep the NAMIBIAN WILD CHEETAH POPULATION STABLE.
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