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 A
word from Lente Roode - founder and owner of the HESC
As this promising year of 200(GR)8 stretches ahead
of us, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect
on the year past.
2007 was such a rewarding year for the HESC. We were
amazed at the amount of support we received from visitors,
sponsors and donors. Highlights of the year include
a remarkable affiliation with Kellogg's SA (Pty) Ltd;
three international fundraising events; several new
adoptions of our resident cheetahs; 79 different local
school's learners visiting with us; the revolutionary
schools twinning programme between Anton van Wouw and
Chuchekani Schools; and so much more.
I am personally humbled that so many visitors and partners
believe in our vision and share our passion for the
conservation of wildlife, and our heritage. Being a
non-profit organisation whose survival is entirely dependent
on donations and support from the general South African
public, the corporate sector and international tourists,
we are profoundly grateful.
I look so forward to another year of partnership, growth,
and inspiration.
Yours in Conservation,
Lente Roode"
 HESC
proudly partnered with Kellogg's SA (Pty) Ltd in an
exciting "Wild on Wildlife" (WOW) campaign
during 2007 that served to both educate our youngsters,
and to raise funds towards the care and rehabilitation
of the cheetah and other endangered species that are
housed at the Centre.
On the back of Kellogg's Kids cereal boxes were some
very colourful cards with interesting information on
the Big 5, and the Little 5. Each of these cards had
a question pertaining to the animal it featured. Kids
needed to answer the questions found on the Big Five
and matching Little Five card in order to enter. The
ultimate winner stood to receive a fully inclusive adventure
weekend at the Centre.
South Africa's kids responded with enthusiasm, and
sent through a total of 4529 sms entries (and in-so-doing
- contributed 50c from each message to the wildlife
at the Centre).
The weekend of 08 - 10 February saw the
culmination of the campaign. Not only did the winners
enjoy a fun-filled couple of days with their hosts from
Kellogg's SA, but we were the very grateful recipients
of a very generous donation of R100 000.00 from Kellogg's
SA (Pty) Ltd.
The Kellogg's SA winners; "Coco"; staff
at the Centre and Lente Roode
We would also like to thank Bambolini Nursery School,
APCO and Pick 'n Pay South Africa for their continued
support!
Gallo Wines
In 2006, the Gallo winemakers traveled to South Africa
to collaborate with their partners in Swartland in crafting
the blends for Sebeka wines. During this trip, the team
visited the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre and
heard from Lente Roode about her work with cheetahs
and other endangered species over the years. They also
had the opportunity to meet Sebeka, the orphaned cheetah
cub that came into Lente's care when she was a child.
The Gallo team was so inspired by Lente's story and
her passion and commitment to South African wildlife
conservation that they decided to name their wine in
honor of her cheetah, Sebeka. In the careful development
of the wines, they hoped to convey the grace and beauty
of the South African cheetah. Through Sebeka's distinct
wine style, they aimed to share with wine drinkers the
same sentiment of awe and excitement that one experiences
when in the presence of a cheetah's speed and prowess.
The Gallo Winery is supporting cheetah conservation
throughout the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
near Kruger National Park by donating a portion of sales
proceeds to the Centre, and is also assisting Lente
in gaining international exposure for her conservation
efforts.
Gallo Wines hosted a "blind dining" evening
of culinary and sensory experiences in New York on the
26th September to launch the Sebeka wine range. Lente
Roode was present on behalf of the HESC.
Personalities present at the evening included Brooke
Shields, seen here with Lente Roode. Also with Mrs.
Roode are Diego LoPrete & Stephanie Gallo of Gallo
Wines; George Neveling of Swartland and Andries Blake,
the chief winemaker for Sebeka wines.
Click
here for further information
US Friends of the HESC
On Friday 28 September 2007, Heidi and Allen Roberts
hosted a dinner to raise funds for the Hoedspruit Endangered
Species Centre. Heidi and Allen are the committed and
enthusiastic force behind the US Friends of the Hoedspruit
Endangered Species Centre (a nonprofit charitable organisation
dedicated to the conservation of wildlife. Their support
and dedication towards making a better and more secure
environment for research and the breeding of cheetahs
(and a host of other animals) is so greatly appreciated.
It is only through the contribution of those like Heidi
and Allen that the HESC continues to exist.
Charitable contributions to U.S. Friends of Hoedspruit
Endangered Species Centre, Inc. are deductible for U.S
Income Tax purposes to the extent allowed by law.
Click
here for further information
South African Tourism Golf
Day - September 2007
On the 20th September 2007, South African Tourism in
the Netherlands arranged a golf day and kindly invited
the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre to participate.
Various items from the Centre (including a painting
and clothing) were silently auctioned to participants
at the event. Funds raised went towards adopting a cheetah
at the Centre.
The HESC also donated a prize of a one-week conservation
course to a lucky winner who would in the process gain
valuable knowledge of and experience in nature conservation.
Click
here for further information
The HESC affords individuals the opportunity of exclusively
adopting a cheetah for a year. Such individuals receive
a dedicated plaque at the entrance to the cheetah's
enclose with his/ her name - acknowledging the contribution,
as well as recognition on our website.
The package includes an adoption gift (including a coffee
table book, an adoption certificate and a pewter collector's
wildlife spoon); an automatic subscription to the Cheetah
Chat Newsletter; and quarterly updates on the progress
of the animal.
Click
here for further information on how you can get
involved.
A total of 8 of our cheetahs were adopted during 2007,
including Sheca, Tilla, Jimmy, Livy, Ronellie, Bielki,
Makkie and Sebeka.
We also had a few younger adoptive parents supporting
the Junior Cheetah Adoption programme.
Click
here for a list of the proud "parents"
who have ensured the continued survival of their charges.
Makkie - one of our adopted cheetahs
Our research capability at the HESC is being expanded.
We are developing laboratory facilities within the Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Veterinary Faculty
of the University of Pretoria which is situated at Onderstepoort.
They have excellent laboratory facilities which we can
add to, to be able to complete specific studies on kidney
function.
 Captive
cheetahs tend to develop kidney diseases at an earlier
age than most animals that we know of. For example,
old dogs commonly reach the end of their days aged between
12 and 14 years as a result of chronic kidney failure.
Kidney failure in captive cheetahs develops at a relatively
younger age. The veterinary sections at the HESC and
De Wildt Cheetah Breeding Centre are collaborating in
a study of kidney function in the two separate cheetah
populations. One of the primary reasons for this is
the advantage that will accrue in being able to compare
the health of animals from each of the Centres which
have different management approaches in place and also
where the diets of the animals differ markedly.
Results of this study will hopefully be coming on line
soon. We will keep you posted.
Two young males from the Centre were fitted with radio-collars
and released on a neighbouring game farm towards the
end of 2005. They have done well! They were kept in
an enclosure on the farm for 6 weeks and then released
to go out and fend for themselves. They soon managed
to hunt successfully and have been able to maintain
themselves during this time. They are tracked at least
twice a week and the people who care for them know of
their hunting habits, and where to find them.
Ralie (a female cheetah) was taken to join them during
August 2007. The males were darted in the veld and taken
back to the enclosure where they were kept before their
release. Ralie was introduced into the enclosure to
meet them. The males were overjoyed with the prospect
of having a female companion and would not leave her
alone. She, on the other hand, became quite desperate
and started to lose weight. One of the males was taken
out of the enclosure and released on his own in the
hope that the single male would be a little gentler
with Ralie. This didn't work. The free roaming male
took to spending all his time around the enclosure "talking"
to his mate on the inside. He was released after this
had continued for 2 weeks. The males left and went back
to their undisturbed habits, moving around the farm
on all of their favourite routes.
Ralie was released a month later but has stayed close
to the enclosure. She is not yet fully independent and
must be fed from time to time. The boys arrived to visit
her two weeks ago, but she showed scant interest in
them.
We will keep you posted as to Ralie's progress.
 2007
was a year of distinctions!
Proudly, the HESC/SAEON partnership grew strongly and
added several new branches during this year. So much
so that the official research piloted by SAEON reflected
the HESC as a high profile partner on several important
fronts - educator support was one of the most significant
of our contributions.
As in past years many hundreds of leaners visited the
Centre and went away enthused and inspired to take conservation
seriously.
HESC has now appointed a dedicated education officer,
on site - a step that will take the outreach programme
forward more swiftly and efficiently than last year.
We look forward to another bumper year - watch this
space for details.
We are particularly delighted to be able to report
on the splendid "twinning" programme between
the Learskool Anton van Wouw in Pretoria and the Chuchekani
Primary School in Lulekani, Phalaborwa. The purpose:
To promote science teaching through a "space"
programme that highlights the need to care for the planet
as part of the greater universe! The main features of
the learning programme are computer training and research
skills for both the educators and learners.
Four other rural schools are included in this programme
and we look forward to creating a spectacular exhibition
together with SAEON in October this year.
Click
here to read more of the twinning programme, and
the exciting collaboration during October's Astronomy
Month
And finally - our cheetah adoption plan is working
well both locally and internationally and with a local
school being attached to each adoption, the HESC is
reaching the poorest of the poor and making a significant
contribution to the promotion of a culture of teaching
and learning through conservation and environmental
awareness
For further details on any of the initiatives mentioned
in this article please contact
Justine at the HESC.
As we near the end of our newsletter,
we thought you might appreciate a view of some of our
newest arrivals.... including one of the cheetah litter,
a beautiful set of Blue Crane chicks and a young rhino
revelling in his bath-time!
If there is something you would like to see in future
newsletters, please drop
us a line. It is only through feedback that we are
able to tailor-make our communications to suit your
requirements.
In the spirit of conservation of our planet and its
inhabitants
The Team at The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
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