Wild Animal Encounters Foundation to start Sydney’s first cheetah breeding program

IT MAY all look like fun and games for newly-arrived African cheetahs Ziva and Zane, but the pair is here to launch Sydney’s first cheetah breeding program.

IT’S the only soccer game where getting your paws on the ball isn’t cheetah-ing.

These two female cheetahs, Ziva and Zane, are the latest residents at Wild Animal Encounters Foundation in the Hawkesbury and are set to be part of the conservation centre’s breeding program.

Ziva the cheetah sprints to chase down a soccer ball. Ziva and Zane have been brought to Australia as part of a breeding program. Picture: Toby Zerna

“It’s the only breeding program conservation program in Sydney for cheetahs,” Wild Animal Encounters Foundation director Ben Britton said.

“We’re the only institution that has the facilities.

“We need to protect and conserve wild cat populations in Africa as well as having insurance populations here in Australia. The two go hand-in-hand,” Mr Britton said.

Ben Britton and Khalia Angus from Wild Animal Encounters Foundation with their two new African cheetahs Zane and Ziva. Picture: Toby Zerna

More cheetahs, including males, will arrive throughout the year.

They are not the easiest cat to breed and are not averse to a little cheetah-ing on their partners.

“Cheetahs are a bit notorious. You have to manage them in a certain way. They like choice so you need multiple males and multiple females,” Mr Britton said.

Blanca is another cheetah at the animal sanctuary. Picture: Toby Zerna

The cheetahs play soccer because chasing the ball mimics the short bursts of energy they use when chasing down prey in the wild.

Wild Animal Encounters Foundation is not a zoo or wildlife park so to get a glimpse of the new additions, visitors will need to make a private booking.

* To find out more visit: www.wildanimalencounters.com.au