New ownership of Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve welcomed a revolutionary model for cheetah conservation and wildlife rehabilitation in South Africa.
Just days after taking ownership of the reserve, Searl Derman, founder and owner of the Aquila Collection, made a bold industry announcement that a strict “no touch” policy and animal-welfare ethics committee was to be implemented with immediate effect.
Today, the cheetah conservation programme, with its responsible and ethical format, offers an engaging guest experience, providing valuable community involvement within Inverdoorn’s rehabilitation initiatives while also providing vital cheetah educational opportunities for guests on safari.
Staying true to the reserve’s core wildlife conservation focus, the cheetah programme’s ongoing efforts work towards rehabilitating and releasing captive-bred or injured cheetahs back to the Karoo wild.
Inverdoorn’s cheetah conservation activities and optional safari add-ons include:
Viewing of the Cheetah Run from an elevated, zero impact position.
Immersive Cheetah Educational tour, led by an experienced reserve ranger.
All activities have a strict no-touching and no-interaction policy.
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The initial committee inspection of the Inverdoorn Cheetah Conservation project confirmed 15 animals in captivity — cared for by experienced and dedicated handlers. The animals have excellent quality of life which ensures they remain in good condition.
Previously, guests were allowed to touch the animals during various times on their safari stay but, since the implementation of the policy update, all animals interactions have been stopped.
As part of the new rehabilitation process, a number of cheetah still have to ‘run for their supper’ by chasing a lure down a runway—reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h.
At the end point, they are rewarded with food. Overnight Safari Guests are invited to observe this incredible scene from an elevated vantage point.
Cheetah are easily identified by their golden coats and solid black spots. Their facial markings, identified by two black tear-marks, are also distinct.
Cheetahs are natural-born runners. Famous for being the world’s fastest land animal, they can reach speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour / 75 miles per hour.
Cheetahs are remarkably agile, with a flexible skeleton that helps them manoeuvre and long, muscular tail that helps them ‘steer’ while running at high speeds.
Inverdoorn is continuously working to achieve the goal of a Global Conservation Project, bringing together wildlife enthusiasts and much-needed support from all around the world.
Following the success of our cheetah rescue initiative, Inverdoorn’s conservation project is seeking to evolve the current rehabilitation project and we are calling on corporate sponsors to help fund a 5000-hectare release area. Sponsorship requests are made in various forms, from monetary donations to the supply of much-needed products and resources.
The call for aid comes at a crucial time during the success of our cheetah breeding and rehabilitation programme, as the reserve embarks on a massive project—building a 5000 hectare, fenced area for the cheetahs to co-exist with other large wildlife (rhino, buffalo, giraffe) as well as other suitable prey (springbok, blesbok, ostrich).
Copyright© Aquila Collection. Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve is part of the Aquila Collection.
