Captive-bred cheetah rewilded, becomes father

April 24, 2020

In September 2019, exactly a year after the launch of the landmark Breeding, Wilding and Release Project set up by Ashia and Kuzuko Lodge, Ivory, the first cheetah to be released from the project, was translocated to his new home at Amakhala Game Reserve.

A month later he was spotted mating with the resident wild female.

‘We would like to welcome our newest members to Amakhala, two healthy, adorable cheetah cubs. These cubs are extra special as they are sired from a captive-bred cheetah who was released into the Protected Environment of Amakhala at the end of last year,’ states Natalie Fowler, resident Ecologist at Amakhala Game Reserve.

The release of captive-bred animals has become an important conservation tool for restoring threatened and endangered wildlife populations. The translocation of animals for conservation purposes requires in-depth planning and monitoring to ensure the long-term chances for survival of the released animals.