Monitoring uMkhuze’s endangered cheetah

Man's encroachment of natural areas has led to animals like cheetah becoming rare and endangered

Tamlyn Jolly

February 24, 2018

Collared cheetah male siblings acquired to help boost uMkhuze's cheetah gene pool PHOTO: Kate Church

FOR rare and endangered animals such as the cheetah, man is their worst enemy, with human encroachment on natural areas drastically reducing their habitat.

This, in turn, has necessitated intensive management by conservation staff and close observation through monitoring collars can prove to be a lifesaver for these big cats.

Home to more than 400 bird species as well as the Big Five, uMkhuze Game Reserve also hosts African wild dog and cheetah.

The reserve’s current cheetah population consists of nine animals.

Wildlife ACT tracking cheetah in the uMkhuze Game Reserve

All uMkhuze’s adult cheetah are collared to enable daily monitoring of their movements, which is essential for their survival and success in population growth.

Priced at R50 000 apiece, collars are bought with funds raised through the iSimangaliso Rare and Endangered Species Fund and Wildlife ACT, a conservation NGO contracted by the park to undertake the daily monitoring of the animals.

To raise funds for such vital conservation work, iSimangaliso hosts an eco-series, a series of events including the Sodwana Bay festival, trail challenge and half marathon, all of which take place annually.

A percentage of the funds generated through entry fees goes towards the Rare and Endangered Species Fund, and used exclusively for the introduction, monitoring and management costs of such species within the world heritage site.

Apart from cheetah monitoring, through the fund collars have been bought to monitor elephant, wild dog and lion.

‘Contributions made to the iSimangaliso Rare and Endangered Species Fund are vital in assisting with these purchases and the park appreciates the direct support of its management efforts by all the participants in the eco-series events,’ said iSimangaliso Marketing Manager, Lindy Duffield.

‘It is a mutually beneficial relationship where our conservation-minded public can be assured of making a direct and tangible difference to the welfare of endangered species in our world heritage site.’