WAC Cheetahs

Our Shaka running at top speed. This photo is copyrighted, DO NOT use this without permission from us. On December 15, 1998, we received a very important shipment on British Airlines from Africa. Two crates that contained chirping cheetah cubs, Shaka (brother) and Zulu (sister). These cats will be permanent residents at WAC as a part of multiple goals. These goals are part of our Conservation and Education, and separate from our Rescue work. No funds have been spent from our Rescue donations and funding on this project is supported privately. They were sent to us in exchange for our ongoing promotion and support for De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre in S. Africa, where they were born. Money we have sent to their project has built Phase Two of their small cat breeding compound (Black Footed Cats and African Wildcats). We are implementing them into several (non-invasive) research protocols in association with three universities, in an attempt to learn more about the health and welfare of captive cheetahs.

In a perfect world cheetahs and all wildlife would only live in the wild. However, the human population is at such a level that there is relatively very little space left to sustain the huge populations of wildlife that once existed. CCF (Cheetah Conservation Fund) does a great job of relocating "nuisance" cheetahs that have been preying on livestock in Namibia to other reserves. De Wildt has had little success in introducing captive-born stock to a wild state. The cats that are all over the world in zoos from captive-bred cheetahs are wonderful ambassadors to their wild-born cousins, touching people's souls that are not able to ever come to Africa. In addition to being exhibited, they can be monitored closely in regards to behavior, breeding, health, and nutrition (what we are doing here) to learn more about their wild cousins. To learn this same information from wild cats, they are tranquilized and stressed heavily.

Unfortunately, the human population will undoubtedly continue to increase to astronomical proportions, creating even less wild habitat for animals, and certainly never more space. This captive population will continue to be healthy and well cared for into the millennium, due to places like De Wildt, zoos, and private collections, all over the world.

Did you watch the Superbowl in 2000? The cheetah star of the #1 commercial for Mountain Dew soft drink was none other than both our Shaka and Zulu! 100% of the funds received to "Do The Dew" advertisement went into our cause and was sent to conservation projects overseas. In addition to another $10,000 from Pepsico, parent company to Mountain Dew, that was directly contributed to Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. Miss the commercial? Download it here (5 megs-Quicktime video). Check out the article on how it was filmed.

Don't worry, the cats were never harmed in the filming, and were monitored by the American Humane Assoc. The tackle and "mouth" scenes were done with animitronics, computers, and fake cheetahs.

June 22, 2004
Goodbye Sweet Shaka

Zulu is on an ongoing exhibit loan to Animal Ark near Reno, NV. She is still on a running program weekly and is a wonderful ambassador for their wildlife sanctuary. Watch their website for events where you can have the incredible opportunity to see her run. Zulu and her late brother Shaka raised over $1 million dollars for cheetah conservation in Africa.

Videos

Shaka and Zulu ran for an audience at two fundraisers called the Run For Survival. They successfully raised over $1.2 million USD for Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, with the help of many dedicated volunteers that made the event a success!

Warning: The first three videos are approximately 1.4 MB, but well worth the wait!

Here is Shaka running, including three turns.

Here is Shaka running top speed in a straight line.

Here is Zulu almost catching the lure (ball)!

Here is a small file of Dawn talking to the audience with Shaka.

Sounds

Here is the sound they make when calling to one another. We call it their "Marco Polo" call, as we only hear it when a cheetah is calling to someone they cannot see.

Here they are talking to one another when they are playing.

Here they are purring.

Photos

Here is Zulu at full run, a magnificent sight!

Here is their mother, sweet Gillian.

Here is their King Cheetah father, Spooky.

Here is an excellent photo of the cheetah's foot and non-retractable claws. This photo is courtesy of the Mark Grant.

The following pictures were taken by Dawn's brother, photographer Ted Wilson (thanks Ted!):

Here is Shaka taking off on a run...

Here is Shaka a second later.

Here is Zulu chasing the lure.

Here is a sleeping baby Shaka.

Here are the both of them when they arrived here at 6 months old.

Here is a beautiful baby Zulu.