Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Orion, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. With another two years to grow, Orion weighs in at 51 kilograms (112.2lbs) which ties him for second heaviest cheetah! As with Saturn the vet believes he is over weight and is now being fasted on Wednesdays as well as Sundays.
As part of our ongoing research goals, Orion was chosen to be a part of a study to try and assess renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered 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; Orion, at 2 ½ years old, was in the young group.
Orion, who has lost some of the shy and awkward behavior that he exhibited as a juvenile, is one of the gang of 5 “tough guys.” When they are fed, they approach slowly, heads down, rumbling, hissing, and sometimes stomping and acting very aggressive. It is quite a sight to see all five coming in together. Although he is five kilograms heavier than his brother, Orion still allows Saturn to move him out of the way so that he can grab the first piece of meat. As with the other guys he looks vicious as possible when rushing in to grab his meat and then joins the others at their safe and secluded spot under the tree.
Thank you for again sponsoring Orion and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
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Monday, 7 May 2007
Saturn - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Saturn, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. Despite maintaining his weight at 45.5 kilograms (100.1 lbs) the vet thought he had too much fat and he is now being fasted twice a week rather than the usual once per week. He seems to be taking that quite well.
As part of our ongoing research goals, Saturn was chosen to be a part of a study to try and assess renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered 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; Saturn, at 2 ½ years old, was in the young group.
Saturn, who has lost some of the shy and awkward behavior that he exhibited as a juvenile, is one of the gang of 5 “tough guys.” When they are fed, they approach slowly, heads down, rumbling, hissing, and sometimes stomping and acting very aggressive. Although he is five kilograms smaller than his brother Orion, Saturn still jostles him out of the way to grab the first piece of food that is thrown their way. They make a point of looking as vicious as possible, grab their hunk of meat, and run as fast as they can to find a safe and secluded spot to dine in peace.
Thank you for again sponsoring Saturn and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Saturn, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. Despite maintaining his weight at 45.5 kilograms (100.1 lbs) the vet thought he had too much fat and he is now being fasted twice a week rather than the usual once per week. He seems to be taking that quite well.
As part of our ongoing research goals, Saturn was chosen to be a part of a study to try and assess renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered 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; Saturn, at 2 ½ years old, was in the young group.
Saturn, who has lost some of the shy and awkward behavior that he exhibited as a juvenile, is one of the gang of 5 “tough guys.” When they are fed, they approach slowly, heads down, rumbling, hissing, and sometimes stomping and acting very aggressive. Although he is five kilograms smaller than his brother Orion, Saturn still jostles him out of the way to grab the first piece of food that is thrown their way. They make a point of looking as vicious as possible, grab their hunk of meat, and run as fast as they can to find a safe and secluded spot to dine in peace.
Thank you for again sponsoring Saturn and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Cruise - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Cruise, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. Cruise now weighs a healthy 42 kilograms (92.4lbs); the vet mentioned that his lean muscled body is how a cheetah is supposed to look.
As part of our ongoing research goals, Cruise was chosen to be a part of a study to try and assess renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered 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; Cruise, at 10 years old, was in the old group.
Cruise is a very special cat; a favorite of many of the staff and volunteers, although no one seems to know why. He’s a scrapper, and that may be the charm. He is a cat to be respectful of and no one goes into the enclosure with him. At feeding time, he doesn’t wait expectantly for his food as some of the others do, but instead runs up to hiss and bat at anyone in the vicinity of his fence, claiming his territory with clear warnings to intruders. He is unrepentant of his behavior and perhaps that wild cheetah spirit is a large part of his charisma.
One of his canines was chipped off several years ago, and it was seen during the workup that the root was infected, requiring daily antibiotics which were hidden in a piece of meat. Since the infection didn’t clear up, a trip to the dentist was necessary, so he was taken to the vet in Otjiwarongo. The infected root was excised and he recovered immediately. He will be put on antibiotics and have his meat cut into chunks for the next month. He still does his tough guy routine, but he secretly seems to enjoy being pampered.
Thank you again for sponsoring Cruise and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Cruise, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. Cruise now weighs a healthy 42 kilograms (92.4lbs); the vet mentioned that his lean muscled body is how a cheetah is supposed to look.
As part of our ongoing research goals, Cruise was chosen to be a part of a study to try and assess renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered 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; Cruise, at 10 years old, was in the old group.
Cruise is a very special cat; a favorite of many of the staff and volunteers, although no one seems to know why. He’s a scrapper, and that may be the charm. He is a cat to be respectful of and no one goes into the enclosure with him. At feeding time, he doesn’t wait expectantly for his food as some of the others do, but instead runs up to hiss and bat at anyone in the vicinity of his fence, claiming his territory with clear warnings to intruders. He is unrepentant of his behavior and perhaps that wild cheetah spirit is a large part of his charisma.
One of his canines was chipped off several years ago, and it was seen during the workup that the root was infected, requiring daily antibiotics which were hidden in a piece of meat. Since the infection didn’t clear up, a trip to the dentist was necessary, so he was taken to the vet in Otjiwarongo. The infected root was excised and he recovered immediately. He will be put on antibiotics and have his meat cut into chunks for the next month. He still does his tough guy routine, but he secretly seems to enjoy being pampered.
Thank you again for sponsoring Cruise and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Merlot - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Merlot, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. He gained 3 kilograms since last year and now weighs 45 kilograms (99lbs).
In previous years for annual exams, we always darted Merlot since he doesn’t go into a box like some of our younger and less aggressive cats. However, this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July to use for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us to move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic. This is much safer and less stressful for the cats.
A few days before the exams neither he nor his coalition mate Klein came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah that they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Josie and Gremlin were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, they focused on food and everything returned to normal.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but, made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you for sponsoring Merlot and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Merlot, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. He gained 3 kilograms since last year and now weighs 45 kilograms (99lbs).
In previous years for annual exams, we always darted Merlot since he doesn’t go into a box like some of our younger and less aggressive cats. However, this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July to use for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us to move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic. This is much safer and less stressful for the cats.
A few days before the exams neither he nor his coalition mate Klein came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah that they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Josie and Gremlin were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, they focused on food and everything returned to normal.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but, made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you for sponsoring Merlot and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Klein - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Klein, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. H is also our second heaviest cat at 51 kilograms (112.2lbs)!
In previous years for annual exams, we always darted Klein since he doesn’t go into a box like some of our younger and less aggressive cats. However, this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July to use for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic.
As part of our ongoing research goals, Klein was chosen to be a part of a study to try and assess renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered 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; Klein, at 7 years old, was in the middle age group.
A few days before the exams neither he nor his coalition mate Merlot came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah that they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Josie and Gremlin were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, they focused on food and everything returned to normal.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but, made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you again for sponsoring Klein and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Klein, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. H is also our second heaviest cat at 51 kilograms (112.2lbs)!
In previous years for annual exams, we always darted Klein since he doesn’t go into a box like some of our younger and less aggressive cats. However, this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July to use for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic.
As part of our ongoing research goals, Klein was chosen to be a part of a study to try and assess renal disease in captive cheetahs. Renal disease is considered 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; Klein, at 7 years old, was in the middle age group.
A few days before the exams neither he nor his coalition mate Merlot came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah that they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Josie and Gremlin were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, they focused on food and everything returned to normal.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but, made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you again for sponsoring Klein and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Gremlin - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Gremlin, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. He has gained 2 kilograms since last year and now weighs 43.5 kilograms (95.7lbs).
In previous years for annual exams, we always darted Gremlin since he doesn’t go into a box like some of our younger and less aggressive cats. However, this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic.
A few days before the exams neither he nor his coalition mate Josie came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah that they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Klein and Merlot were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, they focused on food and everything returned to normal.
Male coalitions have a definite hierarchal structure. After being separated during the exams Josie and Gremlin reestablished their roles with a minor scuffle, reinforcing Josie’s position as top cat over Gremlin.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you again for sponsoring Gremlin and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Gremlin, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. He has gained 2 kilograms since last year and now weighs 43.5 kilograms (95.7lbs).
In previous years for annual exams, we always darted Gremlin since he doesn’t go into a box like some of our younger and less aggressive cats. However, this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic.
A few days before the exams neither he nor his coalition mate Josie came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah that they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Klein and Merlot were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, they focused on food and everything returned to normal.
Male coalitions have a definite hierarchal structure. After being separated during the exams Josie and Gremlin reestablished their roles with a minor scuffle, reinforcing Josie’s position as top cat over Gremlin.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you again for sponsoring Gremlin and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Josie - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Josie, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. He has lost a kilogram since last year and now weighs 44 kilograms (96.8 lbs)!
In previous years, we had to dart Josie to anesthetize him for his annual exam, but this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us to move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic. This is much safer and less stressful for the cats than darting.
A few days before the physical exams neither Josie nor his coalition mate, Gremlin came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Klein and Merlot were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, focused on food and everything returned to normal.
Male coalitions have a definite hierarchal structure. After being separated during the exams Josie and Gremlin reestablished their roles with a minor scuffle, reinforcing Josie’s position as top cat.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but, made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you again for sponsoring Josie and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Josie, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks. He has lost a kilogram since last year and now weighs 44 kilograms (96.8 lbs)!
In previous years, we had to dart Josie to anesthetize him for his annual exam, but this year we made use of squeeze cages that were designed and built last July for a study by the Smithsonian Institute. These cages are constructed of iron bars welded together, with doors made of chain link fencing. A wooden floor prevents any foot injuries and a movable side panel allows us to move them to one side, helping in transferring them into a box for transport to the clinic. This is much safer and less stressful for the cats than darting.
A few days before the physical exams neither Josie nor his coalition mate, Gremlin came up to eat. We drove around his enclosure and were surprised to see a wild cheetah they had been sniffing through the fence. Their neighbors Klein and Merlot were also sniffing with their wild neighbor. After the wild cheetah ran away, they started going up to their eating area, focused on food and everything returned to normal.
Male coalitions have a definite hierarchal structure. After being separated during the exams Josie and Gremlin reestablished their roles with a minor scuffle, reinforcing Josie’s position as top cat.
In October, a jackal somehow made its way into the pen, but managed to find its own way out. Then in December, a warthog got into the pen but, made another hole on the opposite side of the fence to make his escape. A walking inspection of the fence line was done and two holes were found, and immediately repaired.
In mid-January, a controlled burn cleared the pen of excess built up grass, restoring the land. The grass has since re-grown, bringing with it a few flowers, including some beautiful white lilies that either hadn’t been there previously or were choked out by the thick grass. The cats now have a lot of space to move freely under trees and between bushes. It also makes mowing in their pens much easier!
Thank you again for sponsoring Josie and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Harry - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Harry, 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. Harry has almost doubled her weight from last year, from 19 to 34 kilograms (approx. 75 lbs.)! She is still smaller than her brother Ron but, but outweighs her sister, Hermione.
At 19 months old, Harry and her siblings are at an age when they would be independent of their mother. The three of them would normally stay together for another three months, until eventually, a single male or male coalition would force the male sibling (Ron) out so they could mate with the females. Harry and Hermione would then stay in the same general home area where they were born and would raise their cubs there.
However, while in captivity the sibling group need not worry about separating. As a precautionary measure Ron was given contraception in the form of a microchip this year during his annual exam. Along with his sisters, he continues to enjoy exercising by running after their lure system. While Hermione is the most eager, Harry remains the most tireless runner of the trio, as well as the fastest. She still jumps up before we can give her a meat treat and walks away from the rag she has worked so hard to snag.
At feeding time, all three race to their feeding bowls, with Ron and Harry usually leading the charge. Harry is the last to finish, but is usually able to keep Ron from stealing her food by growling at him when he comes too close. When she needs to, she will slap at him, a final warning, as if to say “I’m not going to tell you again. Let me eat!” When she finishes eating, she retires to a shady tree and lies down to let her food digest.
Thank you again for sponsoring Harry and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Harry, 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. Harry has almost doubled her weight from last year, from 19 to 34 kilograms (approx. 75 lbs.)! She is still smaller than her brother Ron but, but outweighs her sister, Hermione.
At 19 months old, Harry and her siblings are at an age when they would be independent of their mother. The three of them would normally stay together for another three months, until eventually, a single male or male coalition would force the male sibling (Ron) out so they could mate with the females. Harry and Hermione would then stay in the same general home area where they were born and would raise their cubs there.
However, while in captivity the sibling group need not worry about separating. As a precautionary measure Ron was given contraception in the form of a microchip this year during his annual exam. Along with his sisters, he continues to enjoy exercising by running after their lure system. While Hermione is the most eager, Harry remains the most tireless runner of the trio, as well as the fastest. She still jumps up before we can give her a meat treat and walks away from the rag she has worked so hard to snag.
At feeding time, all three race to their feeding bowls, with Ron and Harry usually leading the charge. Harry is the last to finish, but is usually able to keep Ron from stealing her food by growling at him when he comes too close. When she needs to, she will slap at him, a final warning, as if to say “I’m not going to tell you again. Let me eat!” When she finishes eating, she retires to a shady tree and lies down to let her food digest.
Thank you again for sponsoring Harry and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Hermione - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Hermione, 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. She has almost doubled her weight from last year, from 17.5 (38.5lbs) to 32 kilograms (70 lbs). She will keep growing and putting on a little bit more weight, but she is almost at her final adult weight.
In additional to the annual physical exam and in conjunction with our ongoing research collaborations, Hermione 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 older; Hermione, at 19 months old, was in the youngest age group.
As you know, Hermione lives with her brother, Ron, and sister, Harry. Siblings develop a strong relationship. In the wild, Ron would have been kicked out by this point, but because Ron can not be put with other males at CCF due to his younger age, the siblings will continue to live together with help from Ron’s contraceptive implant. Hermione stands out with her distinctive dark coloration and feisty personality. All three continue to enjoy exercising by running after the lure system. Hermione continues to be the most eager to run, often encouraging her siblings into joining in.
Surprisingly, at feeding time, it’s a different story. All three races to their feeding bowls, but most of the time Ron and Harry lead the charge and it’s Hermione that is the last to arrive. They almost always eat in the same positions; Ron and Harry flanking Hermione. Hermione is usually the first to finish and doesn’t get greedy and try to steal from her siblings. When she finishes eating, she retires to a shady tree and lies down to let her food digest.
Thank you again for sponsoring Hermione and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Hermione, 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. She has almost doubled her weight from last year, from 17.5 (38.5lbs) to 32 kilograms (70 lbs). She will keep growing and putting on a little bit more weight, but she is almost at her final adult weight.
In additional to the annual physical exam and in conjunction with our ongoing research collaborations, Hermione 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 older; Hermione, at 19 months old, was in the youngest age group.
As you know, Hermione lives with her brother, Ron, and sister, Harry. Siblings develop a strong relationship. In the wild, Ron would have been kicked out by this point, but because Ron can not be put with other males at CCF due to his younger age, the siblings will continue to live together with help from Ron’s contraceptive implant. Hermione stands out with her distinctive dark coloration and feisty personality. All three continue to enjoy exercising by running after the lure system. Hermione continues to be the most eager to run, often encouraging her siblings into joining in.
Surprisingly, at feeding time, it’s a different story. All three races to their feeding bowls, but most of the time Ron and Harry lead the charge and it’s Hermione that is the last to arrive. They almost always eat in the same positions; Ron and Harry flanking Hermione. Hermione is usually the first to finish and doesn’t get greedy and try to steal from her siblings. When she finishes eating, she retires to a shady tree and lies down to let her food digest.
Thank you again for sponsoring Hermione and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
Ron - April 2007
Greetings from Namibia! Quite a lot has happened since your last update:
In mid-February, Ron, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his annual physical exam. As part of an ongoing study of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) in captive cheetahs, several gastric biopsies were taking 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks.
The last time Ron was weighed was in June 2006 when one of his molars was removed. At that time, he weighed 32.5 kilograms; he is now 39 kilograms (85.6 lbs)!
As you know, Ron is in his enclosure with his two sisters, Hermione and Harry. We would have separated him by now and put him with other males of his age, but unfortunately, we do not have any males his age. He also began to exhibit behaviors of sexually mature males. Therefore, he was given contraceptive hormones, which are used to suppress sperm production. As part of our male cheetah’s routine physical exams, we collect sperm, assess it’s quality, and hopefully freeze samples for future use. CCF staff was pleasantly surprised to discover that 19-month-old Ron had viable sperm. Most male cheetahs have viable sperm only after 20 months.
In the wild, Ron and his sisters would now be independent from their mother. In another few months, Ron would be forced out by the local dominant males to find a home area of his own. However, at CCF, thanks to his implant, Ron can stay with his sisters permanently. This way he can continue to harass his sisters at feeding time for their bones. A little growling from Harry will usually keep him off unless it is organ day and then he gets a bit more persistent. Despite his love for food, he is less easily persuaded to let go of the flag during the cheetah run when offered a piece of meat, and likes to pull on the rag as you try.
Thank you again for sponsoring Ron and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
In mid-February, Ron, along with the rest of our resident cats, underwent his annual physical exam. As part of an ongoing study of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) in captive cheetahs, several gastric biopsies were taking 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. He was also given his annual vaccines against rabies and other feline diseases and Frontline was applied to help control flies and ticks.
The last time Ron was weighed was in June 2006 when one of his molars was removed. At that time, he weighed 32.5 kilograms; he is now 39 kilograms (85.6 lbs)!
As you know, Ron is in his enclosure with his two sisters, Hermione and Harry. We would have separated him by now and put him with other males of his age, but unfortunately, we do not have any males his age. He also began to exhibit behaviors of sexually mature males. Therefore, he was given contraceptive hormones, which are used to suppress sperm production. As part of our male cheetah’s routine physical exams, we collect sperm, assess it’s quality, and hopefully freeze samples for future use. CCF staff was pleasantly surprised to discover that 19-month-old Ron had viable sperm. Most male cheetahs have viable sperm only after 20 months.
In the wild, Ron and his sisters would now be independent from their mother. In another few months, Ron would be forced out by the local dominant males to find a home area of his own. However, at CCF, thanks to his implant, Ron can stay with his sisters permanently. This way he can continue to harass his sisters at feeding time for their bones. A little growling from Harry will usually keep him off unless it is organ day and then he gets a bit more persistent. Despite his love for food, he is less easily persuaded to let go of the flag during the cheetah run when offered a piece of meat, and likes to pull on the rag as you try.
Thank you again for sponsoring Ron and we hope that we can count on your continued support in the future.
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