In April 2024, Nkanyiso, a once-captive cheetah, faced one of her biggest challenges yet. After a successful year of rewilding at Nyosi Wildlife Reserve, where she had adapted beautifully to her new life in the wild, Nkanyiso was spotted by a guide with a significant injury.
The Nyosi Wildlife Reserve team noticed Nkanyiso struggling to walk, her front right leg clearly injured. Concerned, they quickly brought her into an enclosure for examination. The X-ray confirmed that her leg was indeed broken, a serious injury that required immediate care. However, the examination brought unexpected and joyful news: Nkanyiso was lactating and had suckle marks, indicating she had given birth and was nursing cubs somewhere on the reserve. The team estimated that she likely became pregnant in early December 2023, when she had an opportunity to mate with the reserve’s males. Three months later, between 5 and 12 March 2024, Nkanyiso gave birth to her four cubs.
Realising the gravity of the situation, the team moved swiftly. Nkanyiso’s cubs had likely been without her for a few days already, and every moment counted. Two dedicated guides, Braden and Jack, set out to search the vast 2,600-acre reserve for the cubs, a daunting task given the terrain and the cubs’ natural instinct to stay hidden. Hours later, after navigating dense thickets and scanning every possible hiding spot, they found Nkanyiso’s four cubs, all healthy but in need of their mother. Carefully, they brought the cubs back to Nkanyiso in the enclosure.
The journey wasn’t over. Nkanyiso underwent surgery to repair her leg, where a metal plate was inserted to help her heal. While she recovered, her cubs stayed by her side in the enclosure, adapting to a temporary life that, while restricted, kept them safe and under the team’s watchful eye. Though still young and vulnerable, the cubs gained strength with each passing day. Nkanyiso, too, was showing signs of resilience, gradually beginning to bear weight on her leg.
By mid-June 2024, Nkanyiso’s recovery had progressed remarkably. She was putting more weight on her leg, cautiously testing her limits, and slowly regaining her strength. The team continued to monitor her closely, providing the support she needed while allowing her space to heal on her terms.
In August 2024, Nkanyiso was seen dragging carcasses again, a behaviour indicating not only her recovery but also her instinctive drive to care for her cubs. By September, she had taken her first running steps since her injury, a hopeful sign that she was regaining the agility essential to life in the wild.
Nkanyiso’s journey from captivity to motherhood, through injury and recovery, exemplifies resilience and the impact of dedicated conservation efforts. Her cubs represent a hopeful future for the species. In a world where cheetahs face numerous threats – from habitat loss and genetic isolation to conflict with humans – Nkanyiso and her cubs embody the fight for survival.
Through the collaborative efforts of the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa, WeWild Africa, The Metapopulation Initiative, and Nyosi Wildlife Reserve, Nkanyiso’s story underscores the crucial role of rewilding initiatives in sustaining vulnerable species. With her release date approaching, the team hopes to reintroduce her and her cubs to the wild by the end of the year, reinforcing efforts to preserve cheetah genetic diversity. Nkanyiso’s resilience as a mother, a survivor, and a symbol of conservation will continue to inspire, lighting the path for future rewilding projects.