In recognition of International Cheetah Day on December 4, Mabula Private Game Reserve in Limpopo’s Waterberg region has celebrated the significant role it has played in protecting the endangered big cats.
Working with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) since 2011, Mabula is part of a cheetah conservation programme called the Metapopulation Management Project, which is seeking to restore the historical range of the cheetah through relocation to game reserves.
In total, 11 Mabula cubs have been moved to various reserves in southern Africa since 2016, of which four were female and have subsequently given birth on multiple occasions.
Preller Human, Mabula Reserve Ecologist, explains that as part of the project, “surplus cheetahs born on Mabula – and other reserves that are part of the project – have been introduced to reserves that have the space to house them and have the capability of producing a breeding viable cheetah population”.
He says EWT manages the genetic lines of the cheetah population in southern Africa through an extensive database. “They carefully plan which cheetahs go where to ensure the genetic pool becomes stronger.”
The reserve also moved its first adult female cheetah to Entabeni, a private game reserve in Limpopo in 2016 and two male cheetahs to Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape and the Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique respectively.
The 12 000-hectare reserve currently has three adult cheetahs (two males and a female) and two cubs, aged 15 months.
While the EWT controls the database relating to the cheetahs at Mabula, the task of managing them on the reserve rests with the Reserve Ecology team.
Human says the cheetahs are fitted with GPS collars that help them track and monitor their activity and movements. “It’s very important for a reserve the size of Mabula to know the trends in predator species selection – what animals the cheetahs have killed to survive – and utilisation of carcasses, so we monitor the cheetahs daily.”
In addition, the team checks up on the cheetahs’ eyesight and mobility, and looks out for any injuries that might require veterinarian work.
The reserve is home to Mabula Game Lodge, part of the Extraordinary portfolio of hotels and lodges.
