Cheetah Management Plan for Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve

Location:
Near Ceres, Western Cape

Year: 2025

Summary:

Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve (IPGR) contracted Apex Conservation Services to compile a Cheetah Management Plan for the reserve. IPGR currently has seven cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), some of which the reserve aims to rewild. To develop this Cheetah Management Plan, Apex undertook a site visit to IPGR to assess the cheetahs’ well-being and the facilities in place at the reserve.

The cheetah management plan was aligned with the relevant policies and regulatory frameworks, including:

• The CapeNature Fencing and Enclosure of Game and Predators in the Western Cape Province (2022)
• The CapeNature Policy on the Conservation, Translocation and Utilization of Carnivores in Captivity (2023).

The cheetah management plan aims to provide guidelines to ensure the well-being and safety of the cheetah, as well as the safety of the staff and visitors to the reserve. The management plan also provides provisions that ensure that all facilities are compliant with the relevant legislation, including the fencing, cheetah facilities, and the food storage and preparation facilities. The plan outlines guidelines for the feeding of the cheetah, as well as to ensure the cheetahs’ well-being and fitness, and environmental enrichment. IPGR makes use of a cheetah run, which simulates the chase of prey, helping to keep the cheetahs fit and healthy. The management plan also guides the reserve on the procedures on the cheetahs’ health and for veterinary care in the reserve.

Apex compiled a number of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for key components of the management of the cheetahs.  The SOPs provided management guidelines on the security of the cheetahs, fence patrols and maintenance, safety protocols for staff and guests, disease management, and fire management. 

IPGR aims to conserve South Africa’s wildlife through habitat restoration, ethical tourism, and the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered species, especially cheetahs, promoting biodiversity and long-term ecological health. The reserve’s vision is to be a global leader in cheetah conservation and ethical wildlife tourism, creating a sustainable future for wildlife, people, and the Karoo landscape. The cheetah management plan compiled by Apex provides guidelines and procedures for the sustainable management of the cheetahs on the reserve, and is therefore a crucial step for the reserve towards reaching these goals.