Quoted from Wildlife ACT, Forever Wild Foundation & African Wildlife Vets Media Release.
> March 16th, 2026
The Wildlife ACT monitoring team on Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park identified an injured male Cheetah in need of urgent intervention.
Thanks to tracking technology supplied by Forever Wild Foundation, the team was able to successfully track the individual’s movements while an operation was planned in collaboration with ezemvelokznwildlife, African Wildlife Vets, and drone guidance from Craig Lord of WildSky Foundation.
Following a successful darting, the decision was made to treat his wounds due to their severity; as well as the genetic significance of the individual to the overall population in the protected area. Following treatment provided by African Wildlife Vets, he was subsequently placed in a temporary predator holding facility for recovery.
The Wildlife ACT team has been monitoring his progress and all partners involved remain hopeful.
Once again, the importance of long-term, consistent monitoring has been reinforced, with sincere thanks to Forever Wild Foundation for supporting the tracking technology for the Cheetah of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
> March, 19th 2026
Following treatment from African Wildlife Vets, the Cheetah has been given time to recover in a temporary predator holding facility, with continued intensive monitoring from the Wildlife ACT team in collaboration with ezemvelokznwildlife.
We will continue to track his movements post-release using technology supplied by Forever Wild Foundation.
Photos: Megan Whittington / Wildlife ACT
> March, 23rd 2026
Good news! The injured cheetah we attended to a few weeks ago has healed well and been successfully released back into the wild.
A few weeks ago, a male cheetah in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park was found injured in an area inaccessible to vehicles – nearly 700 metres off the nearest road.
After days of monitoring, a walk-in operation was required. The team guided in by the Wildsky Foundation successfully darted him on foot and transported him out for treatment, where his wounds were cleaned, and he was placed in a boma for recovery and close monitoring by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and Wildlife ACT.
The cheetah has a tracking collar, enabling Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, supported by Wildlife ACT, to continue monitoring his movements and closely assess his condition in the wild.
Photograph above accredited to African Wildlife Vets