02/07/2026
Cheetahs Return to Eswatini !
EC CHEETAHS HELP RESTORE SPECIES TO ESWATINI AFTER 35-YEAR ABSENCE
….. Moving large apex predators across international boundaries required a complex, multi-phased operation executed between December 2025 and April 2026.
By Sandy McCowen
In a historic victory for Southern African conservation, wild cheetahs are once again roaming the plains of Eswatini. The return of the world's fastest land mammal follows a 35-year absence from the kingdom, marked by a highly coordinated cross-border translocation.
Two female cheetahs from the Nyosi Wildlife Reserve in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, alongside two males from the Dinokeng Game Reserve in Gauteng, were recently released into the 14,000-hectare Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve. Early tracking data indicates the apex predators are adapting exceptionally well.
Monitored around the clock via satellite and VHF tracking collars, the two males have already established distinct territories across the northern and eastern sectors of the reserve.
Meanwhile, the females have settled into stable home ranges and are successfully hunting natural prey.
An Eastern Cape legacy
The successful release serves as a proud milestone for the Eastern Cape's wildlife community. The two females involved carry a remarkable lineage that highlights the long-term efficacy of local wildlife rehabilitation.
They were raised in the wild by Nkanyiso, affectionately known as "Nikki," a rehabilitated and successfully rewilded cheetah. Conservationists point to this lineage as definitive proof that rescued animals, given a second chance, can successfully raise offspring capable of surviving in the wild and anchoring major regional reintroduction efforts.
A logistical masterclass
Moving large apex predators across international boundaries required a complex, multi-phased operation executed between December 2025 and April 2026.
The initiative demanded rigorous veterinary screening, complex international permitting, and the collaboration of a vast network of conservation bodies, including WeWild Africa, the Wildlife Emergency Fund, the Metapopulation Initiative, and the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa.
Upon crossing into Eswatini, the four cheetahs spent a mandatory period in specialised quarantine and acclimatisation bomas. This crucial step allowed the cats to adjust to their new surroundings before their final release into the unfenced reserve.
Securing the future
The ultimate objective of the translocation goes far beyond the return of these four specific animals. Conservation teams are monitoring the cats closely for breeding behavior, noting with optimism that the movements of the males and females have already begun to overlap.
"Today is such a proud day for conservation in Southern Africa," said Taryn Gillson, Global Humane Regional Director for Africa.
"Their arrival in Eswatini is not only a milestone for the country, but also a powerful example of how animal welfare and conservation can work together to secure a future for wildlife." The long-term goal is the establishment of a self-sustaining breeding population.
If successful, future generations born in Royal Jozini will integrate into the broader Southern African cheetah metapopulation, injecting critical genetic diversity into the region and helping secure the vulnerable species for decades to come.
