South Africa is moving cheetahs to regions around the world where they are on the verge of extinction.
About four captured wild cats have so far been flown to Mozambique after being held in quarantine for a month and cleared for travel. twelve other cheetahs are also prepared to travel to India in October.
While the relocation of these world’s fastest animals is a service for their survival, wildlife veterinarian Andy Frasier who spoke with The Associated Press after those going to Mozambique were tranquilised and placed into crates said the relocation was tough for the animals.
“It’s a very stressful process for the cats to be in a boma [livestock enclosure] environment because they have nowhere to go whilst we are darting them,” said Frasier of shooting the cats with darts of tranquilisers.
“We need to use our drug doses very carefully and make sure that we give them enough drugs to anaesthetise them safely,” he said.
“They have woken up nicely in their crates and they are all relaxed enough that we are happy for them to leave in their transport,” he said.
South Africa is however not alone in this restocking effort, as Namibia is also showing interest.
Vincent van der Merwe, manager of the Cheetah Metapopulation Initiative revealed that Namibia will also be moving eight cheetahs to India this month.
“For a genetically viable population in India in the long-term you need at least 500 individuals, so every year we will send eight to 12 animals, to top them up, to increase numbers, to bring in new genetics until they have a viable population,” said van der Merwe.
