Chanel - April 2007

Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:

In mid-February, Chanel, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent her annual physical exam. As part of an ongoing study of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) in captive cheetahs, several gastric biopsies were taken using an endoscope. This year for the first time, staff and volunteers were able to see inside of the esophagus and stomach via the endoscopic camera using a monitor. She was also given her annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. Chanel weighed in at 44 kilograms (96.8 pounds) the same weight as last year.

In addition to the annual physical exam and in conjunction with our ongoing research collaborations, Chanel was also chosen to be part of a study assessing renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered to be the leading cause of death in captive cheetahs. In a study of 29 zoos in the USA, renal disease was found in 82% of cats; in South Africa, the prevalence rate is 80%. There were three age groups: young, middle, and old; Chanel, at almost 7 years old, was in the old group.

Chanel is a very good runner and eager to receive her meat. She is aggressive and bold towards people, but not towards the other cats. She seems to enjoy lying in a crouch by the road, waiting until we pass to jump up in enormous leaps and sprints, catching up easily with the car.

Thank you again for sponsoring Chanel and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.