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Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part One

Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part One

Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part One – From Skepticism to Success

The story of Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part One begins with an improbable vision – reintroducing Africa’s most endangered big cat just 30 minutes from Pretoria. What started as a seemingly unrealistic dream in 2007 has blossomed into one of South Africa’s most remarkable conservation successes, with Dinokeng Game Reserve now supporting 25 wild cheetahs across its 19,000 hectares.

Against All Odds

When Vincent van der Merwe first surveyed the area in 2008, the landscape told a story of agricultural transformation:

  • Rusted farm equipment littering the veld
  • Endless fence lines fragmenting the land
  • Skepticism from conservationists about urban wildlife potential

Yet through unprecedented collaboration between 126 landowners and government, Dinokeng became:

  • Gauteng’s first Big Five reserve
  • A vital cheetah metapopulation stronghold
  • Proof that wildlife and urban areas can coexist

The First Cheetah Pioneers

The initial 2012 reintroduction faced challenges:

  • The Darlington Male: A notorious escape artist with a 6-month, 34-goat rampage across the Eastern Cape
  • The Karongwe Female: A lion-savvy survivor from the Lowveld
  • Early successes (3 cubs born in 2013) followed by heartbreaking losses

Despite setbacks, these pioneers proved Dinokeng’s potential, with their genetics still contributing to metapopulations as far as Malawi today.

A Conservation Laboratory

Dinokeng’s unique urban-edge location has provided invaluable insights:

  • How cheetahs adapt to mixed prey densities
  • The importance of “soft reserves” like Rietvlei for founder populations
  • The resilience of cheetahs in human-modified landscapes

“What seemed impossible fifteen years ago has rewritten the rules of urban-edge conservation,” reflects van der Merwe.

Stay tuned for Part Two, where we reveal how the unlikely Rietvlei female defied expectations and helped establish Dinokeng’s thriving cheetah population.

Contact the EWT Carnivore Conservation Programme: vincentv@ewt.org.za

Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part One

Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part Two

Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part Two

Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part Two: The Unlikely Heroes of Gauteng’s Wilderness

The story of Dinokeng’ s Cheetahs: Part Two continues where Part One left off, showcasing how the Rietvlei female – initially deemed unsuitable for release – became the matriarch of Dinokeng Game Reserve’s thriving cheetah population. Today, this urban-edge reserve (www.dinokengreserve.co.za) supports 25 cheetahs, proving that conservation can flourish even near major cities.

Against All Odds: The Rietvlei Female’s Legacy

  • Supermother status: Raised 3 litters to independence
  • Genetic contributions: Her offspring now roam reserves from Malawi to Zululand
  • Rare allomothering behavior: Witnessed when she shared parenting duties with her daughter and their combined 11 cubs

The Rollercoaster of Cheetah Conservation

The journey included both victories and devastating losses:

  • The Lalibela males’ triumph: Their legendary stand against a Pilanesberg leopard (video)
  • Poaching tragedies: A female found skinned, her paws hacked off for muthi
  • Against-the-odds survival: Her 5 orphaned cubs rescued and now in rewilding program

Why Dinokeng Matters

This project demonstrates:

  1. Cheetah adaptability: Thriving in human-modified landscapes
  2. Metapopulation strength: 63 reserves collaborating via EWT’s programme
  3. Urban conservation potential: Wildlife coexisting 30 minutes from Pretoria

“These cats rewrite what we thought possible,” says Vincent van der Merwe, EWT’s Cheetah Metapopulation Coordinator. “From snare victims to supermoms, their stories define modern conservation.”

How You Can Help

Support this work through:

The takeaway? Even near cities, with proper management and community support, Africa’s wildlife can not only survive but thrive.