Checking up on Cheetahs

THE Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) last week carried out annual health check-ups on the 25 resident cheetahs kept at the CCF’s multiple-captive facilities near Otjiwarongo.

Each individual cheetah was anaesthetised while receiving a general health examination and being given vaccinations against rabies and other feline viruses. During the annual check-up, gastric biopsies are performed, in which tissue samples of the stomach lining are taken to evaluate the presence of gastritis in captive individuals over time.In addition, semen samples are collected from the six adult males for cryo-preservation research to determine the best methods for freezing and thawing cheetah sperm.This year’s examinations included the collection of biomedical and morphological data from five cubs that arrived at the CCF at the end of October 2003.The Namibian was present while a cheetah cub called Klein was being examined.He arrived at the CCF in May 2001 with his two siblings, Chanel and Kelvin.They were about one year old and their mother had been shot on a game farm near the Mangetti area (Grootfontein).People at the farm used the mother’s skin to capture the cubs and after the cubs had been in captivity for three weeks, the CCF was called to collect them.All three were in a very poor condition and needed intensive treatment.At the time Klein underwent 24-hour sedation to help stop him vomiting and to re-hydrate him.Stress and an associated bacterial infection had resulted in severely inflamed stomach linings, vomiting and diarrhoea.Chanel had a bleeding ulcer.Now, following the treatment received at the CCF, he is a healthy four-year-old cheetah.During the annual check-up, gastric biopsies are performed, in which tissue samples of the stomach lining are taken to evaluate the presence of gastritis in captive individuals over time. In addition, semen samples are collected from the six adult males for cryo-preservation research to determine the best methods for freezing and thawing cheetah sperm. This year’s examinations included the collection of biomedical and morphological data from five cubs that arrived at the CCF at the end of October 2003. The Namibian was present while a cheetah cub called Klein was being examined. He arrived at the CCF in May 2001 with his two siblings, Chanel and Kelvin. They were about one year old and their mother had been shot on a game farm near the Mangetti area (Grootfontein). People at the farm used the mother’s skin to capture the cubs and after the cubs had been in captivity for three weeks, the CCF was called to collect them. All three were in a very poor condition and needed intensive treatment. At the time Klein underwent 24-hour sedation to help stop him vomiting and to re-hydrate him. Stress and an associated bacterial infection had resulted in severely inflamed stomach linings, vomiting and diarrhoea. Chanel had a bleeding ulcer. Now, following the treatment received at the CCF, he is a healthy four-year-old cheetah.