Cheetah Update

It’s been over a year since we first introduced cheetah at UmPhafa Nature Reserve back in January 2025, and already we have experienced numerous ups and downs with our founder population.

Ashia

On 20^th January 2025, the reserve team were delighted to welcome a new female cheetah aptly named Ashia, after her donors, Ashia Cheetah Conservation. Ashia was born at Phinda Private Game Reserve on 15^th June 2022. Unfortunately, she was orphaned at a young age when her mother sadly passed away. Since then, she has been cared for by Ashia Cheetah Conservation, who have closely monitored her over the past couple of years. On arriving at UmPhafa, she was initially put into the boma to settle into her new surroundings before she was released on the 13th of February. Ashia started to explore up and down the hills following her release. She is fitted with a tracking collar that enables the team to get regular updates on her location on the reserve, where she appears to prefer the northern reaches of the reserve. The team also get regular sightings of her to confirm she is in good body condition.

Balula

In September 2025, the team were asked to take an injured male cheetah from Babanango Reserve. The 12–13-month-old had a broken foot so needed to remain in the boma for 6-8 weeks until full recovery. Once his bandages were removed, the team worked throughout November to strengthen his foot and increase his muscle mass by dragging meat around the outside of the boma to help him exercise the limb. This proved successful and the vet checked his leg over to see that it had healed nicely. Later in November 2025, Balula was successfully collared and released on the reserve. Following his release, the team have been keeping a close eye. Each time they have seen him, he has definitely had a meal and his body condition looks good. We are yet to see him team up with Ashia, but we do hope they will successfully breed in future.

The Passing of Duma

At the end of December 2025, we sadly lost male cheetah Duma, who was attacked and killed by a leopard on Christmas day. He arrived at UmPhafa Nature Reserve on 24th May 2025 and was released from the boma on 28th August 2025. He was regularly seen doing fence patrols and even met up with Balula and Ashia. As an arch enemy, the leopard was defending his territory and reducing the competition for food. Moving forward, the plan is to reduce the leopard population by moving them to other reserves and to hopefully introduce more cheetah.

Future Plans

In December 2025, we received a call from the Cheetah Advisory Committee who have a single male cheetah in need of a new home – orphaned with 2 female siblings at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Reserve in Zululand, they are currently with a vet. He is under two years and will need careful monitoring. The team are now organising his permits to move him onto the reserve.