May 2015 -- During my trip to South Africa, I had a close encounter with a cheetah. Actually, two cheetahs and two encounters. One was at the Farm Inn in Pretoria where we stayed. The other was at the Lion Park that Nelson and I went to. The cheetah at the Lion Park was blind, as I recall.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
A cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat and the world's fastest land animal. The global population of cheetahs is around 6,500 to 7,100 mature animals. There are about 1,000 to 1,700 in South Africa, the only country with a growing wild population.
Resident cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Making friends with a cheetah
Jim M. (R)
Another cheetah
Some people do not agree with these encounters with wild animals. They feel that the animals are being exploited. There is also a level of danger, as you can't always predict the behavior of wild animals. If the animals are being treated well and the venue is committed to conservation and education I don't have a problem with these up-close interactions. Obviously I did it. I knew the risks. Even domestic animals can be unpredictable and cause harm. I'm glad I got a chance to "meet" two beautiful "cats!"
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