Sylvester

For the past few weeks, two of my good friends here, Lexi and Emma, had the job of looking after a seven-month old cheetah named Sylvester.  He was rescued south of Bulawayo when a local couple noticed his mother and other siblings being eaten by a lion.  Since Sylvester was rescued before his eyes were even open, he will never be able to be released into the wild, as he is too used to humans and has not been taught how to hunt or fend for himself; he is afraid of guinea fowl!  Given that he is still a kitten, albeit a huge one, he is a trial to train and take care of.  Wild Horizons, a large tourism company, has taken over Sylvester's care and made him a nice home enclosure out at the Elephant Camp resort.  The biggest part of Sylvester's daily maintenance is taking him on a twice-daily walk out in the bush beyond elephant camp.  I was lucky enough accompany Sylvester on many walks and to spend some time with him courtesy of Wild Horizons and these girls.  So without further ado, here are some pictures of him in all his baby cheetah glory.

Sylvester on his 'block' waiting to get his harness and collar put on for a walk

 

 

 

 

Sylvester trying his hardest to get the button off my pants... he loves chewing on/playing with shoelaces and buttons

He also likes licking any human skin, which is quite trying since his tongue has the texture of rough sandpaper

 

Taking a break on a felled tree. Wild cheetahs use any high point, usually termite mounds, to survey the surrounding area

Sylvester stubbornly refusing to go back to his enclosure after his afternoon walk

Sylvester mid-walk (walking is a loose term for it, he is unleashed and runs, stops, and stalks his walkers at liberty)