SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURES

CHEETAH EXPERIENCE 

VOLUNTEER DAY

When it was clear I was not able to make it to Sierra Leone until the fall, I began to look around for other adventures in South Africa for the first three weeks in May until time to join my Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe safari.

I found something called Cheetah Experience outside a town called Bloemfontein. 

This Little One Was Running All Over

 Emoya Lodge was close by and was situated on a small game reserve.  Even though the Cheetah place was a breeding only establishment I wanted to see how they operated, so I booked the lodge for two nights and the volunteer day with the cheetahs, serviles, caracals, lions, African wild cats, leopards, owls, meerkats and others.

After stopping for one night in Graff-Reinet in a darling B&B called Avondrust Guest House, I began my journey to  Bloemfontein and the Cheetah Experience. 

Arriving at the Emoya Hotel & Spa, I was able to check into my room early so I could be ready for my 15:30 hot stone 90 minute massage appointment.  :-))))).  I entered my “room” and found it to be a small apartment!  It had a bed/sitting  room with a kitchen/desk/wardrobe room and a bath with both shower and tub.  Quite wonderful with an upscale lodge decor.

How was the massage????  AHHHHHHH!!!!!

The next morning I was up and out before 0700 so I could take advantage of the full day Cheetah experience with the long term volunteers.  My first duty was poop scooping in the enclosures for the cheetah, owls, meerkats, and the general grounds.

After that I spent time “babysitting” various species in various stages of development.  The camp is a breeding camp with a combination of humanized/tame breeding animals and wild breeding animals.  They also have a few rescue species:  Eagle owls, wolves, lions (one is white), a tiger,meerkats.  The babysitting is a part of the humanization of the animals.

Later I joined a feeding brigade where we went out to the wild cheetahs kept for breeding.  Each animal had a bowl with their name on it containing raw chicken.  As we approached the individual compounds the cheetah rushed up drooling, meowing (yes, they sound like house cats) and pacing wanting the food.  There was a low to the ground hinged locked door to shove the bowl through to the cat.  

Then it was back to sitting with the various animals.  One black leopard was in a state of frenzy most of the time.  I decided to use my animal communication skills to see if she would tell me why she was in such a state.  The message I received was she was feeling separation anxiety from an animal with whom she formed a bond, but who disappeared and she didn’t know why.

I asked her main handler to tell me her story.  Luna and her sister were born in another breeding facility.  Their mother abandoned them by not feeding them.  This was not discovered for two days and by then the babies were in a bad way.  They were brought to this facility, but the one cub did not survive - that was Luna’s sister.

This facility is raising another black leopard to be a companion for Luna, but she isn’t old enough yet to put in with Luna.  Leopards in the wild are really loner cats, but it appears that ones born in captivity are less so.  

At one point when Luna was pacing, I laid down on the grass outside her compound next to the fence.  Soon she came over and rubbed up against the fence so I could touch her.  Then I started sending pictures from my mind to hers of the baby leopard getting bigger and bigger until she will be a companion for Luna.  I sent the picture of them playing and tumbling about.  Soon Luna climbed her tree and lay limply on the branch watching me.  Then she turned her back and went to sleep on the limb.

Poofy(the main handler) and Kelly(a volunteer Luna had taken to) and I had a discussion about picture telepathy with animals.  They had witnessed part of my session with Luna and wanted to know what I was doing.  They were very open to trying the technique.  Poofy asked me to continue with Luna from a distance after I left.  I am.

We discussed how to use the technique to impart consequences to unacceptable behavior from Luna.   Poofy is told she is to smack Luna on the nose and say “no” sharply.  She doesn’t like doing this so I suggested she send the picture of when Luna is calm Poofy will be with her, but will leave upon unacceptable behavior.

I have mixed emotions about breeding and humanizing wild animals.  But in the effort of living a life without judgement, I will not expand on those feelings.  However, I did visit another Cheetah breeding camp in St. Lucia who are breeding for the purpose of releasing into the wild.  They buy their breeding cheetahs from Bloemfontein, so there is that!

Below are pictures taken of the smaller babies as I sat with them as well as pictures of others.  I was so busy with Luna I realized after I left I did not get a picture of her, but I will tell you her gold eyes penetrated my very soul.

Sister Cheetahs in the training stage.  Will hiss if approached.

These Owls also didn't like you to get too close.  They are clicking at us in this picture as we poop scooped.  They are rescue and can no longer survive in the wild.

Above and to the right: Baby African wild cats. They look like my cat from long ago named Mouchka and have been proven by DNA to date back to Ancient Egypt!!!

Servile cat.  They are nocturnal and rarely seen in the wild during the day.  These purr as do Cheetah.  She's the princess for sure.

Two Servils and two Caracals are lined up at the fence of their Boma watching us with Luna, the black leopard.  I sat on the mound in this Boma and one of the Caracals kept coming up and rubbing against me purring up a storm.

This is a very small baby Caracal.  They are so sweet.  Like all babies she sleeps a lot.

This baby spotted Leopard is very small or her size.  She was sick at birth and is catching up.

This baby black Leopard is very feisty. Turn your back and she attacks which then brings loud clapping and "no" to train her not to do that.  She is the one that will be put in with Luna when big enough.  She has quite the personality.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara