International Cheetah Studbook 2000-2001 - Cheetah Conservation ...

The visitors are not allowed into the enclosures unless the cat is in a relaxed position, lying down or
sitting up. Strangers never approach the cat if it is pacing or fixated on an object inside or outside of the
enclosure. The ambassadors are free to get up and walk away form visitors if they feel uncomfortable
with the situation, and then visitors are removed from the enclosure until the cat lies down again.
Often the ambassador cheetahs will apparently seek out attention by lying at the gate or directly in front
of the fence. There are areas in their enclosure where they can remove themselves form public view, as
well as areas where they can still be viewed, but are not able to be approached by visitors. The staff at
Cheetah Outreach recognise behaviours that are interpreted as meaning that the ambassador is ready for
visitors, and others that suggest the cat is seeking time alone. For example, a cat may lie in public view
but with his back and tail pressed into a corner, fence or bush. This is taken as a “time out” position, since
it is impossible to allow visitors to crouch behind the cat. The rules of visitor meetings with the
ambassadors are such that strangers never block the cat’s escape path (directly in front of him). Other
signals taken to mean that a cat does not want visitor attention include consistently standing, walking or
running away as visitors approach. Restlessness in the cheetahs is seen when they are walking around
their enclosures, jumping or running for no apparent reason, smelling or urine spraying.
Two of the ambassadors are also taken outside of the compound, where they travel to schools, hotels,
public functions and private viewings. This is an event that both ambassadors will come and sit at their
gates for, appearing to recognise when the vehicle is being loaded with leads and collars, slide projector
etc. These two cats are comfortable with travelling in the vehicle (often lying down and sleeping, or
staring out of the window). It has been noted that when travelling routes that the cats have become
familiar to, they will normally sleep throughout the trip. However, when taking them to new areas, they
will generally sit up and stare out of the windows. When taking a cheetah to an outside function, we will
attempt to ensure minimal stimulation for he cat whilst it is waiting in the vehicle. People, animals, noises
and vehicles are kept away form the vehicle, and most often, the cheetah will then go to sleep. One
ambassador cat will chew the blanket provided in the back of the vehicle whilst he waits to go into the
venue. This cat is also known to chew and swat his tail with his front paws when he is either apparently
under-stimulated or over-stimulated. For example, the tail chewing behaviour is only observed when he is
not used in education or outside functions for long periods of time (2 weeks or more). We use a veterinary
product called “Chew Guard” on his tail to prevent the self-mutilation. The damage done to his tail by this
negative behaviour is never severe, with only hair shafts being chewed. He has never pulled hair out, just
baiting it off at the base, and he has never damaged his skin. Attempts are made to avoid understimulation
due to lack of trips out of the compound, by taking the cat for trips in the vehicle, even if there
is no function booked. Over-stimulation seems to result in more paw chewing and tail swatting and the
cat may also “chirrup” and purr. If there is a crowd at this cat’s fence whilst the cat is resting near the
fence, the cat may not display avoidance behaviour but will start chewing himself or the fence if the
crowd becomes too large or too noisy.
This type of public interaction is seen as enrichment for these ambassador cheetahs, since we have
observed many signs that they are seeking out human attention (as mentioned before). Interestingly,
during the illness of our eldest cheetah, Inca, we did not allow visitors to meet him. However, upon
consultation with our veterinarian, when Inca’s general demeanour worsened (he became very lethargic
and withdrawn) we attempted a few visitors encounters. Inca then gradually became more interested in
his surroundings and would come and lie by the fence again, instead of at the back of his enclosure. Many
staff members present felt at the time, that Inca, having gone from neat constant visitor attention, to no
visitor meetings, may have felt that he was being “punished” through lack of visitor attention. I appreciate
the anthropomorphism involved in this last statement, but the fact that these cheetahs’ daily lives involve
many visitor encounters, when the removal of this stimulation may have impacted upon Inca’s mental
condition. Inca’s food intake was observed to increase significantly after visitor encounters were reintroduced
to his daily routine following surgery.
2