Animals that damage property or are responsible for stock losses are also the responsibility of the Environmental Affairs Departments. The concerned Departments need to remove or destroy such animals. As some of these problem animals are often listed as vulnerable or endangered, the destruction of the animals may be sensitive. The Departments will therefore endeavour to re-establish such animals into alternative environments. If suitable alternative habitats are not available, the animals may be placed in the care of different accredited captive environments.

Wild Dogs

In 1998 the Department of Environmental Affairs in the Limpopo Province brought three African wild dogs that were responsible for stock losses on commercial farms to the Centre. This was followed by the addition of another two dogs in 1999. As no suitable alternative free ranging habitats were available, the amimals were included in the wild dog breeding programme at the Centre.

Cheetahs

The National Cheetah Management Programme (NCMP) was formed in 2000 to plan and coordinate a national cheetah conservation strategy. This programme was introduced, amongst others, to assist farmers or landowners that suffer losses of domestic stock or game due to predation by cheetahs. These cheetahs are captured and accommodated until they can be transferred to suitable alterative free ranging habitats. The National Cheetah Conservation Forum (NCCF) was formed, under the auspices of the NCMP to evaluate and coordinate the redistribution of problem cheetahs in the programme.

Before the NCMP was formed, problem cheetahs were the responsibility of the different Provicial Environmental Affairs Departments. If no alternative locations were available to release these animals, they were placed in the care of credible captive breeding programmes. Thus, from 1990 to 2000 several animals were also brought to the HESC by the responsible authorities. Eighteen of these animals have been relocated into alternative conservation-oriented habitats by the HESC. A further 12 animals that were bred at the Centre have also been reintroduced into free-ranging environments. The progress of the animals that were released was monitored and in two instances, where the cheetahs did not adapt satisfactorily to their new environments, the animals were returned to the HESC.

Since the establishment of the NCMP in 2000, problem animals that are reported to the HESC are collected on the landowners property and placed in quarantine where they receive veterinary attention and are inoculated as may be necessary. They are then transferred to secluded camps until they can be transferred to suitable large conservation areas. These areas must comprise of suitable habitats that contain sufficient natural prey where cheetahs are regarded as an asset by the management. Most of the cost of collecting and feeding the problem cheetahs, as well as the veterinary treatment that may be necessary until the animal can be relocated to a suitable destination, is carried by the Centre. These operations are carried out under the auspices of the NCMP, with the NCCF deciding where these animals should be placed.

Over the period 8 January 2000 to 16 November 2004, the HESC collected and received 44 cheetahs from farms as part of the NCMP. Most of these animals were reported by landowners as problem individuals that caused loss of stock on their properties. 39 of these have been relocated to suitable alternative localities.

HESC firmly believe in the management of the wild population of cheetah in South Africa and will always assist and support Nature Conservation where needed. Currently 2 cheetahs are housed at HESC, while Nature Conservation are negotiating the future of these cheetahs in court. HESC are not aware of the reasons for confiscation and only supports Nature Conservation in supplying a safe haven for them.

In April 2011, five cheetahs were successfully relocated to HESC. After many months of preparation and much anticipation, the cheetahs – an adult female with three sub-adult cubs and an adult male – were successfully relocated to their new home at the Centre. The transfer is part of HESC’s ongoing breeding programme.

In 2010, SANParks (South African National Parks) projected that some of the cheetah in the Mountain Zebra National Park would eventually need to be relocated to new homes to ensure the genetic integrity of the cheetah population as well as the park’s ecosystem.

With the necessary permits in place and a letter of support from the Limpopo Province, the cheetahs were transported in two vehicles from the Mountain Zebra National Park, near Cradock. Watched over by four staff members and supported by the expertise of Dr Zimmerman, the transfer was carried off without a hitch.

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Leopard

HESC recently took care of a leopard on behalf of Nature Conservation until a safe place was found for it to be released. The leopard as a species is now endangered – only an estimated 800 of these amazing animals are left in the wild. This particular leopard came from a neighbouring cattle farm, where it was caught by a farmer on the 17th of January this year. Not wanting to kill the animal, the farmer arranged to have it moved to a safe environment. Nature Conservation found a suitable reserve called Fleur de Lys, about 190km from its previous habitat.

HESC took care of the leopard, providing it with medication, food and safe shelter. It was imperative to give the animal every advantage so that on its release it would not lose condition, and would be able to fend for itself once again.
On the due date of the release, Nature Conservation did not have the funds for the veterinary surgeon to dart the leopard.

Out of necessity, the decision was made to euthanise it. One of the guests at Camp Jabulani heard about this, and offered to pay the veterinarian’s costs. Another person makes such a fundamental difference, and we are humbled by the willingness to assist.

The HESC is happy to announce that the leopard was safely and successfully released on the 4th of March 2010.

CARACAL

At the beginning of December 2010, HESC received a phone call from a farmer who was experiencing problems with a Red caracal on his livestock farm. Fortunately he decided against killing this beautiful animal, as is so often the case in these situations. Christo (curator) and Werdy (guide) drove all the way to Roetan to fetch the reprobate cat.

Upon arrival at HESC the caracal was immediately quarantined so that we could give him a check-up and allow his wounded nose time to heal. He soon regained his health, and last week we decided that the time had come for him to return to the wild. We decided to release him on Kapama because caracals are rarely seen on the reserve, but more importantly there are no farms anywhere near the reserve. Which means the cat will stay out of trouble!

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