Help raise Philipina's offspring to release

Time really does go by fast when you’re a cheetah cub. One minute you’re a cuddly ball of fur, the next, a long lean adolescent.

It has been over a year since we first introduced Philipina’s cubs, who were born at the end of June last year. Since then, they have reached all their milestones and continue to mature. They are now the perfect specimens of their adult counterparts.

Part of the maturation process for cheetah cubs are a move away from their mothers to begin their own lives. This takes place in the wild at approximately 18 months of age. However, it can vary slightly. In this case, the curators at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre keep a close watch on mom and cubs to look for signs as to when the time is right to separate them. Philipina no longer needed to feed the cubs as they were fully weaned. The cubs were also starting to eat her food as well as their own, so they knew the time had come to separate them. Philipina has done a great job at being a mom and she now deserves a break.

The cubs were moved to a separate, large enclosure where there are plenty of trees, grass areas, a dam, and mounds to play on. Here they can learn what it will be like to live in the wild and go on adventures.

Naturally, they will still need to learn to hunt on their own, but this will only happen during the rewilding process after their release. For now, when it is feeding time, the cubs are moved to a feeding enclosure by means of a tunnel which they run through from their enclosure. This is done to ensure the safety of both cubs and the curators, as a hands-off approach is adhered to as much as possible. They are still wild animals, after all, and they need to develop their instincts further.

In addition to moving to their new enclosure, they were also vaccinated to ensure that they remain healthy. A rabies vaccine, as well as Anthravax and Felocell were administered. Anthravax is a vaccine given to prevent anthrax disease, an infectious bacterial disease, caused by spore-forming bacteria. Felocell is a vaccine given to healthy cats and kittens to prevent feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) caused by feline herpesvirus-1, feline respiratory disease caused by feline calicivirus (FCV), and feline panleukopenia (FPL) caused by feline panleukopenia virus.

We are thrilled to report that the cubs are happy and healthy, and we would like to thank everyone who has donated towards their care so far. Please keep checking our social media platforms to see more about their progress.

A vital step in the life of each cheetah cub is to get their very own passport. To do this, their DNA needs to be tested, measurements recorded, and specific photos taken. This is common practise, as the passport information is crucial when it comes to their future release. Careful attention is given to which cheetah will be released into which reserve. This will ensure that no inbreeding will occur and that the metapopulation has a strong lineage, thereby assisting to protect the longevity of the species.

How the DNA testing is done

Blood and hair samples need to be taken from each cub and sent off for DNA testing. To do this, the cubs need to be sedated so that they are calm and can be worked on. Wildlife vet Dr Rogers darts each cub and after waiting a while until they are asleep, a Jelco is placed into one of their back legs so that a drip line for medication can be inserted if necessary. Ointment is placed into their eyes to prevent them from drying out, and blood is drawn from an artery. At least 4 ml is needed. Around 30 hairs are pulled from their tails (against the growth) and placed in a paper envelope.

Recording the cubs’ measurements

As part of the passport process, specific measurements need to be recorded for each cub. These are as follows:

1. From the tip of the nose to the top of the head
2. From the top of the head to the start of the tail
3. From the start to the end of the tail
4. From the start of the shoulder to the tip of the toes
5. From the top of the shoulder blade to the sternum

Passport photos

As with the measurements, there are specific photos that need to be taken. Since the markings on every cheetah are different (like our human fingerprints), the cheetahs can be identified by their characteristic markings. The photos taken are as follows:

1. Whole body: left and right
2. Head: left, right and front
3. Nose: front
4. Whisker spots: left and right
5. Tail: left and right

Once all the above has been done, the cubs are injected with antidote then placed back into their enclosure to wake up and get back to the day’s agenda, which involves playing and relaxing. The passport information can now be sent off for analysis and issue.

The photos shown here are of the female King cheetah cub, who has been named Olga, getting her DNA and photos done.