Fi and cubs - April 2012

Fi and her 3 cubs remain very evasive in the temporary holding camps, which we're pleased about as their natural instincts to fear humans remain in tact.

Lucky, Ayla and Tearmark

Ayla

Lucky, Ayla, Tearmark, Tessa and Tosca have settled into their new camp well and love their new space. Lucky is definitely still the boss of the group, but she doesn’t seem to be able to mediate all of the tensions. Younger cubs Tessa and Tosca are having to adjust  to living with Ayla and Tearmark who are slightly older than them and therefore tend to dominate the group of four - and then Lucky just rules them all!

Samira and Chiquita April 2012

Samira and Chiquita are at it again! While the two generally live together peacefully, when it comes to feeding time things can get a bit competitive. The two elderly ladies will hiss and swipe at each other, each vying to eat first, until the other backs down. The winner tends to change each day as they are evenly matched in terms of dominance.

Pepper April 2012

Pepper is very beautiful, confident and feisty 5-year-old female who has become a perfect ambassador cheetah since her arrival at N/a'an ku se's Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre in Solitaire, in November 2011.

Aiko, Kiki and Aisha April 2012

Aiko, Kiki and Aisha are enjoying their new mound which we have recently built inside their enclosure. Cheetahs in general like to be high up so they can see into the far distance (and look out for predators and prey). In the wild they would seek out termite mounds and sit on top of them. So we thought we'd simulate this for our loveable trio. It's now become their favourite hang out place and they're always spotted sitting on top, looking around at their surroundings.

Cubby April 2012

Cubby has grown so much in the last few months - he is about 6 months old and is now living in a new large camp just next to the kitchen lapa where the staff and volunteers eat and socialise. 

Rusty - January 2012

Rusty has had eye problems for quite a while now so it was time for a professional doctor to have a look at him. On 13th November 2011, Jannes Brandt came to the farm in order to have a closer look at Rusty. 

Cubby - January 2012

On 17th November 2011, a baby cheetah was picked up from a farm located 100 kms away from Naankuse (Farm Lorraine). It was trapped in a capture cage by a farmer to then lure its mom and two siblings into the cage as well. Once caught, its mom and siblings were killed. Luckily, a neighboring farmer saw what was happening and the remaining cub could be rescued and picked up by us.

Lucky, Ayla and Tearmark - January 2012

Lucky finally has received a new camp!! She used to always be living in a small camp next to Rudie and Marlice's house, where she would be sharing with her cubs, Ayla and Tearmark. In the adjacent camp were two other cheetah cubes, Tessa and Tosca. 

Samira and Chiquita - January 2012

Samira recovered very well from her neck injury earlier in the year, but she had us worried again in November as she was not eating well. Our two old ladies seem to take turns when it comes to worrying us, which is understandable at their age! 

Fi and cubs - January 2012

Our cheetah mom Fi and her three cubs arrived in September 2011, and since then they were kept in a smaller very secluded camp, so they would not be disturbed and human contact was at a minimum.

Aiko, Kiki and Aisha - January 2012

Aiko, Kiki and Aisha are behaving more and more like superstars. And we cannot blame them... 

On December 14th they were invited to be the stars of a photoshoot for an international recognised woman's fashion magazine, and went on an 8 hour drive to Luderitz with Marlice and Stuart.

They behaved extremely well as professional models as they are, and the shoot was finished earlier than expected. They were back after only three days! When they came back they would not come out from behind the bushes for a day, the superstars were resting from their long journey home…

In the last month we have been able to do cheetah time again with our volunteers to ensure that everyone gets the chance to have some time up close with these cheetahs full of character. Unfortunately we had had to stop this some months earlier because due to the frequent photoshoots and visits by lodge guests our three friends were just spending too much time with people and not getting enough rest. 

All three of them are loving the extra attention though although, smart as they are, they have become used to the new routine very quickly. They sometimes take up to 15 minutes to appear. The two girls, Kiki and Aisha, seem to be smarter and very quickly can see if the visitors are bringing any food. If this is not the case, then they usually run off and hide. Aiko usually stays for a bit longer and smells at everyone to make sure that no-one has any snacks hidden in their pockets for him. Once he is sure this is not the case, he goes and lies under a tree nearby and poses for everyone to take their pictures of and with him. 

These beautiful pictures of Aiko, Kiki and Aisha show just how much love is between the three gorgeous cheetahs... No wonder they miss each other in the rare occasions when they are separated!