Cheetah ‘attack’ reports exaggerated

IN an incident that has garnered much media attention, a New Zealand teenager was last week said to have been ‘attacked’ by a ‘wild’ cheetah at a Hluhluwe cat sanctuary.

Sparking a media frenzy both locally and internationally, the report appears to have been blown out of proportion, with a doctor’s examination revealing the teen had suffered ‘minor lacerations’.

While the 14-year-old holidaymaker’s experience has received much media coverage, no mention has been made of the importance of such sanctuaries and breeding projects, without which the future of cheetahs would be in jeopardy.

With his family and a tour group of about 20, Isaac Driver went on the cheetah interaction tour last Wednesday.

One of two 12-month-old male brother cheetahs was involved in the interaction while a resident guide kept his brother, the dominant one, separate from the tour party.

All guests enjoyed photos with the cheetah and, on leaving the enclosure, it followed them towards the exit.

Inquisitively, the cheetah that had not been part of the interaction followed and the guests turned, walking towards him, to take photos.

Isaac bent down to take a photograph and, from the side, the cheetah grabbed him on his shoulder and back.

While the father dived in to pull the cheetah off his son, Emdoneni guides had the situation under control.

A doctor’s examination later confirmed minor lacerations to Isaac’s arm and that there were no bite marks.

Dad supportive

The family is enjoying the remainder of their holiday in South Africa.

‘We follow very strict protocols for the cheetah interaction, their enclosures and the breeding programme,’ said Cecillie Nel, Emdoneni owner.

‘Only our habituated cheetahs are interacted with, the wild ones are are kept separate, so do not become habituated prior to their release’.

She said Emdoneni works closely with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in ensuring all regulations are adhered to.

In a statement, Isaac’s father David Driver said: ‘We accept this is an accident and I accept that, as a dad, I put my family in this situation.

‘The staff were amazing dealing with the situation. My family fully supports (Emdoneni)’.

He also said Isaac has a ‘great story to tell’.

The brothers, who have been together since birth, are now separated and the cheetah involved in the incident will be considered for Emdoneni’s rewilding programme.

Meanwhile, audible calls can be heard emanating from their enclosures as each wonders where the other is.

Primarily a cheetah breeding project vital to the conservation of this threatened species,
Emdoneni’s offspring are all released when age appropriate.

‘At Emdoneni we are not only passionate about the conservation and release of cheetahs but also about educating people about them,’ said Cecillie.

‘We are truly blessed that the family supports the project’.

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