How long have you been in nature conservation?
I have been interested in conservation for most of my life but became involved after visiting Africa for the first time eight years ago. I had the opportunity to visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia and saw some of the activities they were undertaking to conserve cheetah in the wild. My partner and I returned to Africa to do some volunteer work with Cheetah Conservation Botswana, which protects cheetah in the wild by educating local farmers and relocating “problem” animals. I was able to assist with surveys relating to livestock management and predation which was used to help create an awareness of cheetah-friendly farming practices.
What inspires you about working at Perth Zoo?
I have the opportunity to meet people who work in various conservation NGOs and become involved in conservation in a number of ways. I appreciate working for an organisation like Perth Zoo which, through its Wildlife Conservation Action fund, financially supports a variety of NGOs. This support is essential in ensuring they can continue to work towards saving various threatened species.
What is the biggest obstacle to saving the cheetah?
Cheetah are one of the smaller carnivores and are often pushed out of protected reserves onto farm lands where they are persecuted by farmers, trapped or shot. Due to their gentle temperament, they are particularly vulnerable to these threats. Farmers believe that cheetah kill livestock and they are also sometimes confused with leopards as they are both spotted cats. Educating local farmers and protecting the habitats in which cheetah still exist are the keys to saving this species. The situation is becoming quite serious for cheetah. They are a threatened species with an estimated 10,000 individuals left in the wild. Two of the sub-species of cheetah are critically endangered. It is estimated that there are only 60-100 animals left of one of these sub-species and only 200 of the other.
What is the most interesting thing about cheetah?
They can either be social or asocial depending on their sex. The males form very strong bonds with their brothers and stay in a group (or coalition) for life. The cubs also stay with their mothers for 12-18 months and have lots of social interaction. Even though they belong to the cat family, their claws don’t retract. Their pads aren’t smooth like those of a domestic cat. They have ridges on their pads which give them extra traction when they run.
What is your most memorable experience of cheetah?
Watching our female cheetah give birth here at the Zoo. She dropped her cub on my lap when it was three days old. It was the ultimate show of trust.
What has been your most memorable nature conservation experience?
I was involved in the release of a wild male cheetah which we had successfully treated for severe leg wounds from being caught in a trap. We were able to relocate him to a farm where they were not only happy to have cheetah but also to help monitor him via a satellite collar.
Why is nature conservation so important to you?
I feel very strongly that we need to protect what is left of the species that still exist in the wild.
Along with donating to or fundraising for Perth Zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Action fund, what can individuals do to help the nature conservation cause?
One of the best things people can do is support NGOs involved in conservation, such as Cheetah Conservation Botswana or Zambian Carnivore Program.
Find out more about the conservation organisations which our featured staff support.
Photos courtesy of Phil England.
