Four cheeta cubs relocating to avoid in-breeding of big cats

GAUTENG – The City of Tshwane says this was done to maintain the demographic integrity of the cheetah population. The female cheetah gave birth four male cubs and one female. The mom Njozi, was relocated from Garden Route Game Lodge to Rietvlei Nature Reserve two years ago. Tshwane Environment MMC Ziyanda Zwane says the five offspring were relocated to prevent potential inbreeding with their mother and between the siblings.

The city also wants to mitigate unsustainable levels of cheetah predation on the remaining prey species at Rietvlei Nature Reserve. It is crucial that measures are taken to prevent overpopulation of the cheetah species at the nature reserve. The female has been released and she will remain at Rietvlei Nature Reserve for a considerable period so she can be taken care of by the mother for better growth and will then be moved to another nature reserve outside Tshwane.

Zwane says the relocation will ensure that Rietvlei Nature Reserve can continue with wild cheetah conservation. The principal goal of the project is to maintain the genetic and demographic integrity of the cheetah metapopulation and to increase the resident range of wild cheetahs across their historical distribution range. After the removal of the subadults, efforts will be made to supplement the Rietvlei Nature Reserve blesbok population to ensure that a male cheetah can be brought in to join Njozi at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.