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Zoological Gardens have gained an international<br />
reputation as a result of their successful captive breeding<br />
programmes for endangered animals. One of its most<br />
successful programmes is the one at the De Wildt<br />
Cheetah Research Centre, north of Pretoria in the North<br />
West province. To date De Wildt's biggest achievement<br />
has been the breeding of the King (or striped) Cheetah,<br />
the only King Cheetah ever to have been born in captivity.<br />
The zoo houses some 3 500 southern African and exotic<br />
animals, including the largest antelope collection in the<br />
world. The exotic inhabitants of the Zoo include Brazilian<br />
maned wolves, Indian gaurs, European wisent and<br />
Arabian oryxes. Other inhabitants include the four great<br />
types of ape and 193 species of birds. In total, the zoo has<br />
6 000 inhabitants. The Aquarium and Reptile House, next<br />
to the zoo, houses 180 species of freshwater fish and 130<br />
species of marine fish, as well as several species of<br />
snakes, lizards, iguanas and crocodiles, and also boasts<br />
an amazing seashell collection. The zoo also does<br />
excellent work with the artificial insemination of birds. The<br />
animals are housed in beautiful, natural surroundings and visitors may enjoy picnics in the<br />
grounds or refreshments in the restaurant or cafeteria. The facilities are often used for social<br />
functions.<br />
Rietvlei Nature Reserve: The<br />
3000 - 3800 hectare Rietvlei<br />
Nature Reserve, about 20 km<br />
south of the city centre, is home<br />
to 2 000 head of game. Game<br />
lovers will appreciate the horse<br />
trails and the 21 km overnight<br />
hiking trail that the reserve<br />
contains. Be on the lookout for<br />
buffalo, white rhino, hippo, eland,<br />
zebra, wildebeest, red<br />
hartebeest, springbok and other<br />
smaller species of buck. More<br />
than 140 species of birds have<br />
been recorded here, a bonus for<br />
bird watchers. Yachtsmen and<br />
fishermen use the dam in the<br />
reserve.<br />
Roodeplaat Dam Nature<br />
Reserve: The Roodeplaat Dam<br />
Nature Reserve lies a few km<br />
outside Pretoria, on the Moloto<br />
Road (take the Zambesi Drive<br />
off-ramp from the N1 to<br />
Polokwane). The dam was<br />
constructed between 1956 and<br />
1959 and today provides water<br />
for the animals and birds that<br />
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