Unusual cheetah behaviour leads to two collarings!

Extract from 092 GVI Expedition Science Report: Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve

"For the past year, researchers on the reserve have been trying to catch a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) [using conventional trapping methods] in order to fit one with a radio collar. In the 092 expedition, two unusual events led to the collaring of two cheetahs - one a male, part of a two male coalition, and the other a young female.

The male was collared on 23 May 2009 having responded to a call up at night. [This was unexpected in that cheetahs do not normally respond to call ups due to their vulnerability and low ranking within the carnivore hierarchy.]

The female was collared following a bizarre turn of events in which she was contained in the boma while a wild dog (Lycaon pictus) was being released. She was then fitted with a collar on 23 June 2009 and released from the boma."

Since their collaring, the volunteers have been tracking the males and habituating them to GVI vehicles. Our hard work has paid off as we are getting more and better visuals of them every time we track them down. Unfortunately, the female cheetah's collar appears to have stopped transmitting only weeks after it was fitted and thus we have had less success with her.

Chris Joubert, Base Manager, Venetia

Unusual cheetah behaviour leads to two collarings!