For two male cheetahs from Madikwe Game Reserve, the move to Pilanesberg National Park began with a few weeks in a holding boma. Now the gates are open, and the pair have been exploring their new home in the North West.
Roberta Doyle / Unsplash / Illustrative purposes only
The two adult males were moved on 23 September 2026 with help from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Cheetah Conservation Project. Pilanesberg had two resident females and no resident males at the time. Bringing in the pair adds genetic diversity to the park’s cheetah population and gives it a chance to breed.
Why the pair spent time in a boma
Before the journey, a veterinary team checked the cheetahs’ health and fitted them with tracking collars. Once the pair reached Pilanesberg, they spent nearly three weeks in a temporary enclosure while they got used to their surroundings.
Madikwe and Pilanesberg are relatively close to each other, and cheetahs have a natural homing instinct. Giving the pair time to settle was part of planning for that. On 13 October, both males were released into the park.
What the move means for Pilanesberg
The relocation is part of a national conservation project that moves cheetahs between reserves. Bringing animals from different reserves together helps maintain genetic diversity, which matters for the long-term health of small populations.
For now, the two males are getting to know Pilanesberg. If you’re heading out on a game drive there, a glimpse of either cat would be a treat. There’s already plenty to appreciate in the work that went into getting them there, from the health checks in Madikwe to the day the boma gates opened.
Source (SA People News)
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