Saving big cats at the AfriCat Foundation in Namibia
Saving big cats at the AfriCat Foundation in Namibia
Learn about efforts to protect cheetahs in Namibia.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
Transcript
NARRATOR: It's dry season in Namibia and there hasn't been a drop of rain in months. The watering holes have nearly all dried up, and the animals are thirsty. How far would they go to avoid dying of thirst? They might break out of the game park and trespass on the neighboring farms. However, it's the animals whose lives are in danger. Namibia's farmers are armed and ready for anything. In fact, part of the reason many of the big cats are on the endangered species list is that farmers and trophy hunters shoot to kill.
The world-famous AfriCat Foundation acts in the interest of animal welfare. This is Okonjima, home to more than 80 cheetahs, numerous leopards and several lions. Taking care of them all is a full time job to say the least. Indeed, Carla and Dave's whole lives revolve around the big cats. Today is vaccination day at AfriCat. Some of these animals have been living here for more than 10 years. While tourists are normally welcome to watch the animals get fed, today the paddock is strictly off limits. If you're wondering why the animals live in fenced enclosures, the answer is that these protect them from wandering off and falling prey to their major predator - mankind. The sad truth is they often get hit by cars or shot by farmers. AfriCat is their only hope of survival.
Dave tries to shoot the vaccination into the cheetah's hind legs, but at the speed they move, that's easier said than done. Bull's eye. Still, removing the needle from the cheetah can be tricky and Carla has to be careful.
All done. AfriCat's mission is to preserve the natural habitat of the majestic big cats in order to ensure the animals' survival for generations to come. This is why Carla does her best to reintroduce the animals into the wild before they get used to regular feedings.
CARLA CONRADI: "The cheetahs have an instinct to chase. All all that needs to be really honed is the way that they kill their prey. So what we do is we give them a chance to practice that. We put them into a 4,000-hectare area that has natural game species, natural prey species. And we give them the opportunity to hunt those animals for themselves and once they've proved that they can hunt on their own we look for a home for them where we can release them."
NARRATOR: AfriCat is a non-profit Namibian organization, funded entirely by donations and tourism. The concept has proven a total success. Anyone who's been to Okonjima to experience the beautiful cats close up is quickly aware just how necessary the AfriCat project is.
The world-famous AfriCat Foundation acts in the interest of animal welfare. This is Okonjima, home to more than 80 cheetahs, numerous leopards and several lions. Taking care of them all is a full time job to say the least. Indeed, Carla and Dave's whole lives revolve around the big cats. Today is vaccination day at AfriCat. Some of these animals have been living here for more than 10 years. While tourists are normally welcome to watch the animals get fed, today the paddock is strictly off limits. If you're wondering why the animals live in fenced enclosures, the answer is that these protect them from wandering off and falling prey to their major predator - mankind. The sad truth is they often get hit by cars or shot by farmers. AfriCat is their only hope of survival.
Dave tries to shoot the vaccination into the cheetah's hind legs, but at the speed they move, that's easier said than done. Bull's eye. Still, removing the needle from the cheetah can be tricky and Carla has to be careful.
All done. AfriCat's mission is to preserve the natural habitat of the majestic big cats in order to ensure the animals' survival for generations to come. This is why Carla does her best to reintroduce the animals into the wild before they get used to regular feedings.
CARLA CONRADI: "The cheetahs have an instinct to chase. All all that needs to be really honed is the way that they kill their prey. So what we do is we give them a chance to practice that. We put them into a 4,000-hectare area that has natural game species, natural prey species. And we give them the opportunity to hunt those animals for themselves and once they've proved that they can hunt on their own we look for a home for them where we can release them."
NARRATOR: AfriCat is a non-profit Namibian organization, funded entirely by donations and tourism. The concept has proven a total success. Anyone who's been to Okonjima to experience the beautiful cats close up is quickly aware just how necessary the AfriCat project is.