Veterinarian Trever Viljoen, Craig Cordier, Thilo Beck and Ian Pennefathet during the process of collaring a male cheetah, Amani, at Thula Thula Game Reserve in Zululand.
Four cheetahs - Amani, Asante, Malaika and Ayana - are at the heart of an important wildlife conservation effort at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal.
On May 29, the reserve undertook a crucial operation to locate and fit new tracking collars on the endangered big cats.
The exercise was carried out by Thula Thula’s Anti-Poaching Unit, reserve management team, field guides and veterinarian Trever Viljoen.
The collaring process is highly time-sensitive, requiring the animals to be sedated and fitted with the collars before the medication wears off.
