The Wildlife Emergency Fund (WEF) has maintained a long-standing partnership with the Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, which is located near Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa. The reserve is one of the largest urban nature reserves in the world and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including cheetahs, buffalo, white rhinos, hippos, and a host of other plains game species.

In June 2025, the reserve contacted us after a female cheetah escaped, and they urgently needed assistance in returning the endangered animal. We immediately sprang into action and had a vet and helicopter on-site within two hours of the call. Unfortunately, she eluded the team on the first capture attempt. A helicopter and vet, along with a team from the Endangered Wildlife Trust, were sent again on the second day, which was successful.

The cheetah was safely returned to the reserve, and the satellite collar was checked. The Wildlife Emergency Fund initially fitted the collar onto the female cheetah, enabling the reserve to track her in case she breaks free.

We are also proud to be dehorning the reserve’s rhinos on an ongoing basis.