Mabula Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg has introduced two male cheetah, transported from Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Western Cape. This is the first time cheetah have been introduced to the reserve.

Upon arrival in the reserve, the two animals spent a few weeks in a boma where they were carefully monitored by Reserve Manager,Ryno Erasmus, as well as Dr Yolanda Pretorius from the reserve research division, and her team. “Time in the boma is very important as it allows animals to become familiar with their surroundings and curbs their instinct to run away, in an attempt to return to where they came from,” says Erasmus.

The two-and-a-half-year-old cats are completely independent from their mother and have been hunting on their own for at least six months.

The Mabula Private Game Reserve, in the Waterberg Mountains, has introduced 5 roan antelope to the reserve.

Roan antelope are sensitive to habitat changes, and as such have specific and critical habitat requirements. Glenys Du Pont, resident manager of Mabula Game Lodge, says that the antelope have adapted well to the veld conditions and that they are regularly spotted on game drives.

“The main focus for introducing the roan antelope was tourism-based, as they are quite a big drawing card for game viewers. We are also looking at increasing their numbers in the reserve in the long run,” says Du Pont.