Saving the cheetahs

jennyr

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My daughter is currently on holiday in South Africa, and she sent me some wonderful pictures taken at a cheetah snctuary, where they rescue and breed cheetahs and educate people about them, with the aim of increasing hte wild population. I thought I wouyld share this picture of her with one of the cubs

 

cat person

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Thank you for sharing that photo. Your daughter is a very very very lucky person, to be in contact with such a magnificent big cat.
 

amberthe bobcat

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That is so awesome!! I love cheetahs and have wanted to go to Africa for the same reason. I have had the opportunity to meet a few cheetahs up close and personal. They are such beautiful cats. Couple interesting facts. Most of you know that cheetahs are the fastest land animal. They are also the only cat that does not have retractable claws.Their tail is not round, but oval shaped and used as a rudder when they are running. They are also believed to be all inbred.
 
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jennyr

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That is so awesome!! I love cheetahs and have wanted to go to Africa for the same reason. I have had the opportunity to meet a few cheetahs up close and personal. They are such beautiful cats. Couple interesting facts. Most of you know that cheetahs are the fastest land animal. They are also the only cat that does not have retractable claws.Their tail is not round, but oval shaped and used as a rudder when they are running. They are also believed to be all inbred. :cat:
Thanks for those facts, John. I believe that cheetahs are the only big cats who purr - is that right? My daughter said in her mail that the refuge has a huge circular track, like a greyhound track, with stuffed rabbits, to exercise the cheetahs and teach the cubs to hunt. She said it was amazing to see them run.
 
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denice

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They are all very closely related, many of the males are sterile because of inbreeding.  This is one of the things in the wild that humans are not responsible for. Only a few closely related ancestors of the cheetah survived the last ice age.
 

spudsmom

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That is so awesome that your daughter had the opportunity to be so close to those beautiful cats!
 

pushylady

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Wow, what an awesome experience! Such beautiful animals. I bet that would really be something to see them running. I doubt I'd be able to resist the urge to rub that cub's tummy! :love:

I'm glad she had a more positive experience than this poor lady:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17967219
I hope that incident doesn't impact negatively on the sanctuary's work.
 
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jennyr

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I saw that news item this morning. It is hte same sanctuary, so like you I hope the work continues. But it goes to show you always have to be very careful around 'wild' animals.
 

feralvr

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What a wonderful experience for your daughter, Jenny!!!!!!!!! I am sure you will hear wonderful stories from her after she returns home. :clap::clap::clap:
 
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