p.1 #1 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
The Tshukudu Reserve in South Africa specializes in breeding lions and other cats, and in raising orphaned animals. Their most famous resident, who has apparently made a name for herself in fashion shoots, is an 8-year-old female cheetah named Savannah. She is free to come and go as she pleases, and she hunts for herself. Nevertheless, she often hangs around the lodge and allows guests to pet her (so long as they don’t touch her belly or her feet). At other times, she disappears for weeks. It was interesting to be at the lodge during a time when she was hanging out – it gave me an opportunity to use my flash and to think about photographing animals in a VERY different context than what I’m used to!
Comments and critiques appreciated --
-- Susan
#5 Cheetah lounging on a brand new sofa, just before getting chased off. Apparently she likes to pee on the furniture, which is… well, kinda disgusting. http://www.stanford.edu/~suemcc/SoAfrica/9809.jpg
#8 A staff member at the lodge enjoys putting out leftovers for the porcupines at night. Oh my goodness, this is so ecologically incorrect!!! And yet, it was way, way cool to watch the porcupines and listen to the amazing rustling sounds of their quills, and to laugh at the black-backed jackals who braved getting stabbed by quills to share in the scraps. http://www.stanford.edu/~suemcc/SoAfrica/9959.jpg
p.1 #2 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
That is amazing! I'm so jealous right now! I love the porcupine and jackal shots. It looks like their sizes are mixed up to me..like the jackals should be bigger, haha. I guess I haven't realized how big porcupines are, considering I've never seen one in the wild. Pretty cool!
p.1 #5 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Susan,
we're big on wildlife & support several wildlife organizations. One is the Cheetah Conservation Fund - - this came out of my daughter's 2nd grade endangered species paper.
I think cheetahs are amazing & I so envy you this experience. Wonderful to see a little of what you've had the great luck to experience.
p.1 #6 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Okay Susan I'm getting pretty envious now. You just seem to be exploring all kind of new territory here. Love the Cheetah on Sofa shot, Pretty unique Porcupine/Jackal shot and you must cherish that last shot.
Congratulations. And by the way you have me thinking about climbing aboard an Elephant for some Tiger photos now.
p.1 #7 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Beautiful, evocative photos Susan which do convey very nicely the current trends in South African Wildife Management.
I recall passing by the Tshukudu gate when driving past Hoedspruit, en route from Kruger to Blyde River Canyon, when I was in SA a few weeks back, and it is interesting to have an inside glimpse of the place through your photos. Sadly the cheetah is highly endangered in the Kruger and I never saw one in the wild during my seven days of self driving safari. Your story of a cheetah that is able to kill and survive in the wild yet totally tame with humans to the extent you portray is really unbelievable. Is this a cheetah that was brought up in captivity and later released to the wild? I wonder how she would protect herself from lions, hyena etc when encountered in the wild? South African Wild Life Management has left me with some mixed feelings. On the one hand they do a marvelous and very skilled job with the conservation and captive breeding programs, successfully releasing many species back into the wild, on the other hand, there seems to be too much human intervention. Did you ever go into Kruger? I spent 10 days self driving with the family and we covered from Malelane in the South to Phalaborwa staying at various camps and saw lots of lions and elephants and all the other game, birds etc, but the cheetah, wild dog and leopard eluded us. You could see my trip photos at http://www.abidally.com/mp/South%20Africa%20Album/
p.1 #8 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Hi Susan, what an experience. Glad you shared these images. My favorite is #5.
Jude
Jul 03, 2008 at 03:42 AM
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p.1 #9 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Well Susan you've done it again!! When I grow up I wanna be Susan
You do on a weekly basis what some of us will be lucky to do once in our lives.
That means you suck I hope that was funny!!
Great story and (as always) Photos
Photos 4 and 10 are WOW factor. To see a human that close to a "Wild" Cat is amazing. And to think that you went on a walk and it decided to just 'tag along' like the family pet is amazing.
p.1 #12 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
What a great story and experience. Wonderful pictures as well. When I was in Sri Lanka we came across a wild elephant that would block the traffic in a major highway until he was fed bananas. Once given his food he moved away so the traffic could proceed.
Harsha
p.1 #13 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
What a brilliant and unique story, Susan. And great photos to go with it. I feel like I was watching The Nature Channel --- or a National Geographic special...A truly wonderful post.
p.1 #15 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Thanks a lot for sharing these ones Sue. Very interesting indeed. I'm trying to decide if this reduces the awe-inspiring sort of image of the cheetah, or whether it may actually strengthen it by having these people nearby. Well, I'd say, from the pictures it seems as though the cat knows it can come or go, and sort of appears to act like she owns the place.
p.1 #16 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Hello Sue,
This is a great documentary. It must have been an incredible experience to be so close to "wild" predators (this being your second post from the refuge). However, I am sure that you must have been very conflicted by this experience. As a one-time field ecologist (and now biology educator) I can recall the conflict that I felt when visiting the Vince Schutte "wildlife sanctuary" in Orr, MN. This was a giant clearing in the woods in which Purina Chow, Cheerios, peanut butter, and food scraps were spread in the cracks of "fallen wood." During the morning and afternoon some twenty-five black bear sow, cubs, and boars would visit. You could walk in an among the "wild" bears. These animals were so tame that they lost their fear of humans and each other. In addition, they became dependent on the center. Rather than roaming the rich north woods for food during the spring and summer months, they remained near the refuge... some bears made this their cultural tradition living their entire lives in and around this small region. On the other hand, the photography was sublime. You could do portrait work (with flash) of a fairly elusive animal.
As both a scientist and artist, the conflict was so profound that I decided to never visit the center again. Vince Schutte is less than a day's drive for me... and 10 years later, I have not been tempted by the easy photography because I understood how wrong (ecologically) this place is.
Having just returned from a 14 day safari in Tanzania I now have an even greater appreciation for the wildness that once defined this planet. While I am glad that the sanctuary you visited exists to preserve and restock the diminishing wild species on our planet, I am very saddened that a place like this one is needed to secure the future of South Africa's megafauna.
p.1 #17 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Susan top notch photos sis' you're quickly becoming the most envyed person on FM I really really really think you should use that lens baby more! the effect is just over the top WOW i'm getting one of these this summer
p.1 #18 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Wow, that about sums it up. Very nice photo's, well done. I wouldn't want to hang out in a bar with a cheetah in it, those things can't hold their booze and always start fights!
p.1 #20 · Cheetah with an attitude, and other not-so-wild African wildlife
Hey Susan,
as always, you never seize to amaze. Love all the pictures--they tell great stories. Ey, I wonder where you learned that ? haha, actually you already knew how to do that before FL.
As always I am extremely jealous. Btw I had no luck with owls at shoreline...no one home.
I love the porcupine and jackal shots. It looks like their sizes are mixed up to me..like the jackals should be bigger, haha. I guess I haven't realized how big porcupines are, considering I've never seen one in the wild. Pretty cool!
I hope that was funny!!