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Thanx Megan! We had a lovely visit!

We spoke to Jeanne and she told us that all 29 cheetahs were collared. We went out and found 3 uncollared youngish cheetahs(6 to 8 months old), so MZNP has at least 32 cheetahs!

Wanda,

what luck you had You know that you are owing us a trip report then

@Pumbaa - I've still got to finish my KTP report, but once I get my pix sorted and have a bit of time, I will either do a mini report or post some of our sightings in MZNP Animals thread.

Wanda

Some day in my life I will go to MZNP - Therefore every information I got or pictures I will watch will be more than helpful.

Looking forward to that already

Hi Megan

I was just wondering what the status of the Cheetah in the MZNP was. How many have they got there now and what is the carrying capacity?

Thanks
Have a wonderful week!

We currently have 17 cheetah in the Park and another 16 cheetah which are being kept in the bomas for translocation.

As you can see the cheetah have done very well in MZNP as we introduced 4 in 2007 and they have increased to over 30!

We are currently looking for homes (game reserves and parks) for the 16 cheetah in the boma, working with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and others.

We plan to manage the numbers of cheetah to fluctuate between 10 and 16 cheetah, depending on conditions in the Park.

Thanks for the info Megan. Wow they must be thriving there. 16 in the Boma, thats quiet a few! I hope they find homes soon!!!

Hi Megan,

Thanks for that good news. At least we know where cheetah numbers can quickly increase if they are endangered elsewhere!

Four of those cheetahs in the boma just sent me an SMS: ``Stuffy in here! Please send us to Karoo National Park!''

Can I forward their message to you?

Keep up the good work!

God bless,

Friedrich von Hörsten

Funny, Friedreich,

I got the sms too

Strange, The SMSs I got said that they want to go to Mokala.

You won't believe this!

I just received another sms from those cheetahs!

Two of them want to go to Addo Main camp -- they say they've had enough springbuck, rhebuck and blesbok to last them for a lifetime -- they want to help cull the warthogs near Carol's Rest!

Let's hope Sanparks has enough airtime and good reception to register their votes! After all, this is a democratic country now....

Seriously, Megan, DO let us know where they have gone to -- it is always fun to keep track of our Addo lions and cheetahs.

God bless,

Friedrich von Hörsten

very funny, guys!

We have moved two cheetah cubs out of the bomas to a new home in an Eastern Cape rehabilitation centre. Another 10 cubs are also waiting to leave the bomas in the next month or so to homes in private game reserves / rehab centres.

Batman and Robin were moved to Kuzuko Contractual area in Addo Elephant National Park earlier this year.

The adult female cheetahs in the bomas will be released back into the Park after they have been contracepted (a dose of contraception lasts for 2 years).

We will eventually release cheetah in Karoo NP but probably only in 2012 when the springbok population has stabilised. We will make this decision after we do the next census in Karoo in Feb 2011.

Any cheetahs that go to Addo will only go into the northern area - Kuzuko or later Darlington (once its been consolidated and completely fenced) as this is the suitable habitat for them.