Cheetahs temporarily return to Rietvlei reserve

Four sub-adult cheetahs – two female and two male – will be relocated from Welgevonden Game Reserve to Rietvlei for a period of six months. Thereafter they will be moved to a reserve located outside of South Africa.

Well-known conservation biologist of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Vincent van der Merwe, said for the first month the cheetahs will be monitored closely. Thereafter, they will be allowed to freely roam the reserve.

“Whenever you move cheetahs, lions or leopards, any wildlife, you put them in a boma, which is a small hectare area so that they can get used to their new surroundings and to lose their homing instinct,” Van der Merwe said.

“The boma period gives them a better chance to adapt to their new environment.”

Since 2014, cheetahs have been relocated to various reserves in South Africa, with Rietvlei being one of the locations. In 2015, three female cubs were relocated to Rietvlei. Two of the females gave birth to cubs, and the one female was moved to Dinokeng.

The sisters met up, with cubs and all, having 11 Cheetahs in one spot. These offspring were distributed to six cheetah reserves located in the Karoo, Zululand, the Northern Cape, northern Limpopo as well as Marakele National Park in the Waterberg. Van der Merwe said that Rietvlei will serve as a holding point that will allow these animals to retain fitness and conditioning before reintroduction into a reserve located outside of South Africa.

They will feast on springbok, black wildebeest, zebra and various other species in the reserve.

“The absence of competing predators in this area, allows trimming game numbers,” said Van der Merwe.

“We have been working closely with the management of Rietvlei and Tshwane metro,” he added.

Since 2011, the EWT Cheetah meta-population project, managed by Van der Merwe, has overseen the growth of the meta-population from 217 cheetahs on 41 reserves in South Africa to 402 cheetahs on 60 reserves in Southern Africa.

Welgevonden game reserve has since provided EWT with 13 wild cheetahs. Cheetahs continue to do well on Welgevonden, with a current population of 15.

“It is incredible what has been accomplished on this 350 square kilometre property over the past 25 years.”

Welgevonden, previously a collection of 20 odd cattle farms, now supports viable populations of a myriad of naturally occurring wildlife species, with the cheetah being just one of them. This wildlife roams largely free of human persecution.

“An estimate of 350 cheetahs roam free on farmland on the northern border and Kruger National Park is home to about 412.”

South African side of Kgalagadi calculate at 80.

“The meta-population I managed in South Africa has 380 cheetahs and there is around 22 in Malawai,” concluded Van der Merwe.