What a busy time it has been! So many projects on the go, so many animals in our care, so many sponsors and donors - it is hard to keep up. The mid-year edition of Cheetah Chat is sure to warm the hearts of fellow conservationists, and those who simply appreciate a little positivity. From animals nursed back to health, to the projects on the go at the Centre, to some really exciting fundraising initiatives, to a really funny creature at the Centre - we hope you will enjoy this communique. We are once again amazed at the generosity and passion of corporate South Africa, as well as of (extra) ordinary people who go such a long way to help. The selflessness that we see each and every day is heartening and humbling in equal measure. To every visitor who walks through our door, to every company who has come to our rescue, and to every sponsor, adoptive parent, and financial donor - we thank you. Conserving, Cherishing and Protecting …. The H.E.S.C. Family

Some Heartfelt Thank-Yous.

Once again, we have some very generous donors to thank.

The Bayer Pharmaceuticals Team visited us at the HESC, and brought with them much-needed Rompun and Profender. For those of us who are medically-challenged, Rompun® (containing the active ingredient Xylazine) is used in veterinary medicine for sedation, analgesia and muscle relaxation. Profender is the first and only topical cat dewormer that combines the powerful, broad-spectrum control of intestinal worms with the ease and convenience of a single dose treatment. Profender treats and controls hookworm, roundworm and tapeworm infections in cats and kittens that are at least 8 weeks of age and weigh at least 2.2 lbs (1 kg). [Isn't it great to learn something new?]

Profender has since been applied to the greater majority of all our cats in the project. The results seem very promising as all animals have tested negative for nematodes after treatment. There were also no ill effects from the treatments.

F10 Health and Hygiene has sponsored the cleaning material for our kitchen, hospital and butchery. These units are the foundation of the Centre, and it is imperative that they are hygienic so as not to affect the animals in our care. They have also very kindly donated a product which has been used on Tokwe (one of the elephants from the Camp Jabulani herd) who has been suffering from a fistulous sore for months. She was anaesthetized and treated and seems to be healing exceptionally well.

PPC Cement has donated cement.

More of Our Junior Heroes

Since we last communicated, we have attracted another few young conservationists who have proven that a mighty spirit is not restricted in a small body!

Kit Smith is an extraordinary young man who is not only a budding author, but also a committed conservationist. Following a recent trip to South Africa, he wrote a book and sold copies to fellow conservationists to raise funds towards the endangered and vulnerable animals of the HESC. Kit raised GBP 26.00, and sent a cheque to us as his way of helping out.

We look forward to reading more of your books in the future!

Shannon and Sabrina Louis celebrated a birthday party on the 14th March 2009, and very selflessly asked that each of their guests donate R20.00 to the HESC instead of bringing them birthday presents. They managed to raise R1530.00!

Kit, Shannon and Sabrina - you have touched all of us at the HESC beyond belief and have humbled us immensely. Thank you!

Some very special Visitors

As part of the Student's Programme, participants may get involved with lesser privileged communities. In a unique project, the HESC has partnered with the rural school of Paulos Ngobeni Primary School, located 25kms from the Centre.

Grade 4 learners from the school have the opportunity to visit the Centre to learn more about endangered wildlife, and the cheetah in particular. They work closely with the Students as they go about their daily duties.

Students also have the chance to assist the Primary School with much-needed equipment. Funds may be raised by visitors to the Centre, or interested parties. Contact us for further information on how you can get involved.

Seen here is the latest group of students who enjoyed an action-packed day with the student crew at the HESC.

We also welcomed Rian en Belinda du Toit (Harley Davidson South Africa) to the HESC in May.  They travelled South Africa with some tourists and enjoyed the visit to the Centre very much.

Projects on the Go at the H.E.S.C

• Dr. Eddie Webb is currently working with us at the HESC. He is actively involved in the feeding programme of the cheetahs, and is instrumental in the slow transition from meat to cat pellets. Read more about Dr. Webb's revelations about wildlife conservation centres. He is also assisting us with a kidney study in our cheetah population. A study group of 24 cheetahs (half male and half female) are being monitored for the effects of various supplements on kidney parameters. The aim of this study is to determine whether our current supplementation is aggravating the incidence of kidney disease and whether or not a change in supplementation can increase cheetah survival rates.
  
  
• The ADI lions, Sarah and Caesar, had their health examinations. Both seem in excellent condition. Sarah in her caring, dazed stupor removed the dart from Caesar’s shoulder and then passed out herself. Many thanks to the students, who truly enjoyed the experience and were invaluable in the procedure.

• We have been conducting tests on one of our senior residents as he is getting very old - this in our quest to make this tiger's twilight years as comfortable as possible. This routine "check up" went without incident, and we are pleased to report that he is in very good shape. He got a good tooth cleaning in the process.

• The Khamai reptile park had a call out to save a black mamba that had been cut and disemboweled with a knife. Professor Meltzer did an after-hours call-out and performed surgery on the poor snake. It is recovering very well and should be released back into the wild over the next few weeks.
  
  
• All the Wild dogs at the HESC have been blood sampled and skin biopsied for a genetic study of the captive population in South Africa. The study is being conducted by Tracy Rehse at the National Zoo in Pretoria. One of the sub-adult wild dogs in the large group had bite wounds inflicted to its one axilla, and by the careful and meticulous surgical skills of Dr Céline Le Rochais it has healed beautifully.
  
  
• Due to the ever increasing size of our large wild dog pack and the delicate nature of their hierarchy it was decided to vasectomize the alpha and sub-alpha males. This will maintain the hierarchy without further breeding, until suitable areas are found to release the offspring. Then breeding can be allowed to continue.

• One of our objectives is in increasing the number of King Cheetah born to the HESC. Naledi, one of our beautiful female King Cheetahs, has had some blood samples taken to test for progesterone. It was found that she has not ovulated, and is therefore not ready for babies. We will try again in a few months time to see if she is fertile.
  To read more about this most fascinating cat, click here.
  
  
• We have also recently released two male cheetahs, Derek and Wynand, at Entabeni. We are pleased to advise that they are both doing very well, and have adjusted to their new surroundings admirably.

An Amazing Fundraising Initiative

Each of the 48 golf enthusiasts who had reserved their space in advance arrived to brave the elements in the fairest Cape on Thursday 28th May. Hosted by the beautiful Steenberg Hotel, the golf day arranged to raise much needed funds for endangered and vulnerable animal species housed at the HESC was a resounding success. Well over R50,000.00 was collected, which will go a long way towards our operating costs.

Golfers's efforts did not go unrewarded. A selection of very generous and environmentally conscious corporate donors across a host of industries joined forces to amass a prize-pool that would impress even the most seasoned of charity organisers. From five star accommodation across the country, to first class products and artwork, no participant left the event disappointed. The recently-completed Catharina's Restaurant did not disappoint, with a sumptuous three-course meal put on for the enthusiastic team players.

For a full list of donors, and to view the exceptional online gallery of images of the event captured by Dave Smith (So Handy cc) - click here.  For the lucky prize winners, click here. 

Some known personalities did their bit for conservation too. Sandra Prinsloo did an admirable job of MC'ing the event.  

Thanks go to each and every person involved in the day, and without whom the fundraising initiative would not have been possible.

We will be hosting another Golf Day at the Sabi River Sun on the 17th July. If you are in the area, why not join us for a round?

We are inviting participants to book four-balls for the day, but please note that limited spaces are available. Those participants who do not have a four-ball, but would still like to attend are invited to contact us for further available options.

New Arrivals at the H.E.S.C

Piet, our large resident male lion, and his mate have produced a litter of 3 cubs.

We are also very proud to announce that our third baby Sable was born in April! For those not in the know, the Sable is a large African antelope (Hippotragus niger) with backward-curving horns and usually a dark coat. They are an endangered species.

Look who recently arrived at the HESC.... Aren't they beautiful? Cheetah mothers Spotty and Tinga gave birth to 2 and 4 cubs respectively during April 2009. All moms and babies are doing very well!

A Sweet and funny Creature.

Koos is our resident parrot who is especially fond of blonde ladies visiting the Centre. He has been known to tell our visitors that they are “stupid” (much to our dismay!) and he loves saying “hello” to everybody.  Koos certainly makes us laugh, and gives us a lot of pleasure.

Seen here is Koos with his rightful owner, Karen Storm - you can see how fond Koos is of Karen.

If there is something you would like to see in forthcoming editions of Cheetah Chat, please let us know. We welcome your feedback.

In the spirit of conservation and respect of our planet and its inhabitants

The Team at The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre

www.hesc.co.za