Kuzuko Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape – September 2019: September last year saw a milestone achieved in the conservation industry with the start of the Breeding, Wilding and Release Project, set up by Ashia and Kuzuko Lodge.

Six months into the project, seven cheetahs had been translocated by Ashia to Kuzuko, five of which are adults and two of which are sub-adult. They are all captive-born, and two of the females had already given birth in the breeding section. All of the adult cats were released on one of the wilding sections after their boma-period, and they showed surprisingly fast first hunting successes. Their further development was, and is, closely monitored and documented. The team behind the Ashia/Kuzuko Project is proud to announce that September 2019 saw another landmark achieved in conservation; the first translocation of a captive-born male cheetah, which was from the Kuzuko wilding section to his final release site.

“Kuzuko was in need of a female cheetah last year, and while waiting for one to be sourced by the EWT [Endangered Wildlife Trust], with whom we have been working closely with since our inception, we were contacted by Ashia Cheetah Conservation with the possibility of receiving a once captive and hand-raised female and to wild her. Realising the need for cheetahs in other protected wildlife areas, throughout Southern Africa, we entered into further negotiations with Ashia and started planning the Breeding, Wilding and Release Project in partnership with Ashia. The male that went now to Amakhala Game Reserve was the first captive-born male to arrive at Kuzuko, and has been successfully wilded through this partnership”, says Gerhard de Lange, Kuzuko Private Game Reserve General Manager.

The hundred percent self-sustaining cat found a new home within the South African Cheetah Metapopulation, managed by the EWT. The 5-year-old male cheetah was translocated in mid-September to a lion-free area of Amakhala Game Reserve. There he will hopefully father many cubs with the already present wild female.

“I can’t put into words how proud I am of this boy and his incredible development. As a cub and into adulthood he was used to interact with tourists but at some stage refused to be touched. From the very first moment I saw him, I could sense his special and strong personality,” says Chantal Rischard, Founder of Ashia. The release of animals bred in captivity has become an important conservation tool for restoring threatened and endangered wildlife populations. The translocation of animals, for conservation purposes, requires in-depth planning to ensure the long-term chances for survival of the released animals. “The release of captive-born animals does not only require a profound check of the future sites of release but also a very careful choice of the most promising cats. Although this male didn’t have the best start in life my husband and I decided to acquire him and at least offer him the chance to become wild and free. I truly believe that the history of a cat is of no importance, only his way forward is. If a cat shows the right signs we go to any lengths to secure it a promising future, no matter his past”, adds Chantal Rischard. Release sites are carefully chosen by Ashia and a wide range of factors is taken into account. Amakhala met all of Ashia’s requirements but ultimately it was Amakhala's dedicated team, and strong conservation initiatives, that convinced Ashia. They believe they found the perfect place for the first cheetah to leave Kuzuko and the wilding program.

“Wild, free-roaming cheetah are a priority conservation species on Amakhala and we are very excited to be involved with this pioneering and sorely needed 'wilding' project. We are also proud to be working with Ashia, Kuzuko and the EWT in furthering the cheetah metapopulation genetic scope. This male will feel the Bushmans River valley sands beneath his feet as he strides free across the plains and that is a win for conservation. Well done Ashia and Kuzuko for doing what is often spoken about but rarely practiced”, says Mark Palmer, Reserve General Manager of Amakhala Game Reserve.

The Breeding, Wilding and Release Project primarily focuses on the wilding and introduction of captive-bred cheetahs and their offspring into the protected wild. The ultimate purpose is to strengthen the gene pool and to secure a viable cheetah metapopulation in South Africa; aiming to prevent the further decline of cheetah numbers in the wild.

“After a very exciting and educational year into our project, all adult cats without cubs are ready to start their future life on other game reserves. Very soon, the next cats will leave the wilding sections and hopefully start new families with the wild males and females waiting for them on the game reserves”, closes Gerhard de Lange.