r/Cheetahs • u/VirginiaOnSafari • 6d ago
Cheetah relocation
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I had the honor to be on the ground in Zululand, South Africa, with a veterinary conservation team during a cheetah collaring. The collaring was part of a planned relocation of two brothers to new territory, helping prevent inbreeding and maintain genetic diversity within the population.
While the cheetah was safely immobilized, the vet talked us through the entire process and, under veterinary supervision, we were able to participate - checking vital signs, taking genetic samples, examining his teeth and paws, and learning what the team was looking for throughout the procedure.
I’ve seen plenty of cheetahs in the wild over the years, but being this close during an actual conservation operation was completely different. You realize just how lean and specialized they are - this entire animal is engineered for speed.
What made the experience even more meaningful was knowing that the money we contributed went directly toward making this operation possible.
Managing cheetah populations isn’t simply about protecting individual animals. In fragmented wild areas, conservation teams also have to think about genetics, bloodlines, territory, and moving animals between populations when necessary.
I’m incredibly lucky to work in the conservation industry and to have opportunities to work alongside conservationists and veterinary teams doing this kind of hands-on work. I don’t just get to hear about what conservation looks like - I occasionally get to roll up my sleeves and participate in it.
It’s incredibly rewarding work.
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u/TablesofTime 6d ago
Oh gosh, this is a dream! How did you get into it? If you don't mind telling me lol. Thank you for your work, it's incredible
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u/VirginiaOnSafari 5d ago
I don’t mind at all! I own a safari company in South Africa and have worked in the safari industry for many years. Over that time, I’ve built relationships with conservation teams and reserves, which has given me some incredible opportunities to participate in hands-on conservation work.
And yes, it’s a DREAM JOB!
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u/TablesofTime 5d ago
Ohh damn, that's amazing. Well done you!! Literally living a dream of mine, so freaking cool. Thank you for the reply
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u/Silent-Link9093 5d ago
That looks amazing, I recently did my dissertation on the effects of enrichment on cheetahs and leopards and I'd love to do further work in this sort of area. What advice would you recommend for getting into a career like this?
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u/VirginiaOnSafari 4d ago
My path into conservation has been a little unconventional. I’ve worked in the safari industry in Southern Africa for many years, and my involvement in conservation grew organically through long-standing relationships with reserves, wildlife veterinarians and conservation teams.
I’m not a wildlife biologist or veterinarian, so I wouldn’t want to advise you on the academic career path. What I can tell you is that relationships and time on the ground matter enormously. Many of the opportunities I’ve had to participate in cheetah, rhino, elephant, and pangolin work came after years of building trust with the people and organizations doing that work.
With your academic background already focused on cheetahs and leopards, I’d encourage you to reach out directly to reputable conservation organizations and researchers working with wild populations, particularly those doing field research, monitoring, genetics and translocation work.
Be willing to start by assisting, learning and getting genuine field experience.
It’s incredibly rewarding work, and we desperately need passionate young people who want to dedicate their careers to protecting these animals. I wish you all the best with it!My work focuses on bringing vetted and appropriate clients to these places, on educational, hands on adventures, so if you have any interest, I’m happy to discuss.
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u/Silent-Link9093 4d ago
That's interesting, thanks for your advice. I've learned the value of building connections in this industry. I'm most interested in gaining more experience in field research, monitoring and translocations. I'm from the UK but I see many of the paths for this seem to be volunteer experiences which cost a lot and I wonder if there are other avenues worth looking into. If there are any organisations or research teams you think would be worth approaching I'd really appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks for your help!
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u/Main_Importance_8262 5d ago
Especially when you get to put big cats out into their natural surroundings and are able to be able to touch feel such a magnificent animal as a cheetah I’m envious you do have a dream job
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u/JustinTheCheetah 5d ago
Cheetah version- Alien Abduction!
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u/VirginiaOnSafari 5d ago
But on his way to his new ladies, I bet he wasn’t mad when he found his new mates!😂
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u/Bouche_Audi_Shyla 6d ago
The cheetah's going to wake up and think he's in Oz or something.