Animal Diaries Archive

Our new staff settle in

30 December 2005

Well, three months has gone by and hasn't it flown! Our two new cheetah staff members, Claire and Danielle, have been settling in very well. When they were first introduced they had to have supervised contact with the cheetahs until their bonds and relationships developed. Now they are able to be in with the cheetahs more comfortably and with less supervision. Spending hours on end sitting and interacting with the cheetahs builds on that bond each and every day.

Lately the girls have been able to get Cleo and Sheeba into the pool. Without a strong cheetah/keeper relationship behind them, the cheetahs wouldn't feel comfortable or safe going into such a new environment. Claire and Danielle can now be in with the cheetahs on their own for small periods of time. They have also started their leash technique training with all four cheetahs, which will soon enable them to walk the cheetahs around the Zoo. But they are still learning! As the cheetahs get older they constantly throw us new challenges to deal with.

Until next time... cheetahs RULE!