Cheetahs Return to Limpopo!
After 30 Years of Local Extinction
We are thrilled to share some incredibly exciting news—cheetahs have returned to a 20,000-hectare reserve in Limpopo, South Africa, after more than three decades of local extinction. This marks a major step forward for both wildlife conservation and eco-tourism in the region.
Restoring Balance to the Landscape
The reserve is home to a rich variety of game—including impala, kudu, zebra, springbok, and buffalo—making it an ideal habitat for cheetahs. The return of this iconic predator not only helps restore the natural predator-prey balance, but also promotes biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Reintroducing cheetahs is about more than restoring a species. It’s part of a broader conservation effort to strengthen cheetah genetics, reduce isolation between populations, and expand their safe range across southern Africa.
Meet the New Arrivals
Dr. Johan and the Saving The Survivors team recently relocated a coalition of two male cheetahs from a game reserve in the south. They have now settled into a boma, a temporary holding enclosure, where they will remain for the next four weeks.
This period allows them to acclimatise to their new surroundings and helps reduce their homing instinct—ensuring a smoother transition when they are released onto the larger property. While in the boma, they are left undisturbed and fed every fourth day, following best practice for cheetah introduction.
Once the males have settled, a female cheetah will be introduced, with the goal of establishing a healthy, reproducing population on the reserve.
Behind the Scenes of a Remarkable Operation
Relocating cheetahs is no small task. It requires expertise, calm under pressure, and a deep understanding of wildlife behaviour. From the careful darting and sedation process to secure transport and release into their temporary enclosure, every step was handled with the utmost care by our experienced team.
Grateful for Support
We are deeply thankful to the Veterinary Conservation Coalition for their generous support in making this project possible.
And to our global community of supporters—thank you. Saving The Survivors is 100% funded by donations, and we are only able to carry out life-changing conservation work like this because of you.
Stay tuned for the next big moment—the release of the cheetahs into the wild in just a few weeks!