Doubts over ‘missing’ Rietvlei reserve cheetah, Njozi
"She has not been seen for a month and we are not sure of her whereabouts."
Wildlife conservationists are trying to unscramble the puzzle of the mysterious disappearance of Njozi, the female sub-adult cheetah of Rietvlei nature reserve.
“Initial reports indicated that Njozi escaped from the reserve on Tuesday evening, but the pictures of spoors and tracks that have been sent, are those of a brown hyena.”
This was according to Endangered Wildlife Trust conservation biologist, Vincent van der Merwe.
“There have been reports that she escaped, but they have no evidence that she actually escaped.
“Responders have been searching for her non-stop, but there has been no sight of her.
“We are not sure if she got out or whether she might have died in the reserve.
“She has not been seen for a month and we are not sure of her whereabouts,” he said.
Van der Merwe, who was part of Njozi’s relocation process from Western Cape to Rietvlei, said that shortly after she was released into the greater part of the reserve, her collar stopped working.
“She has become exceptionally skittish in human presence and has not been seen by visitors regularly.
“There are a lot of things that could have actually happened to her.
“She could have been mauled by a black wildebeest, kicked by a zebra or injured by a blesbok as their horns are very dangerous to cheetahs.”
The conservation biologist said that if she had escaped, three things needed to come together to capture her.
“Firstly she needs to be sighted and it needs to be reported immediately. Secondly, a vet must be available, and thirdly a helicopter.
“There is a small prospect for capture, it will be quite a process to get her back.
“She is a wild cheetah, but they are not known for attacking humans.
“There is a small possibility that she has not eaten for a long time and when she comes across a toddler or a young human being, it is possible that she might attack an unattended child,” he said.
The functional head of the reserve Natalie Vos said that unfortunately, their search had until now, been unsuccessful.
“I am honestly wondering with the information we are receiving if it is actually the cheetah.
“Something could have happened to her inside the reserve, and we have been looking for her outside of the reserve.
“I am starting to doubt the information we do get,” Vos said.
According to Tshwane MMC for environment and agriculture management Dana Wannenburg, a cage where she could be trapped in, will be set up at the fence on Delmas Road.
“Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre has offered to help set up the cage.
“If she is indeed outside the reserve and wants to return to her habitat, she will have to get through the cage. If she might still be inside the reserve and want to escape, she will also have to go through the cage.
“Microlights will be dispatched this afternoon to search for her inside,” he said.
If anyone sees the cheetah, contact Vos on 082-891-2081.
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