Heather Tookey shares a remarkable bond with a cheetah named Dew, whom she met in 2011 at the Cheetah Experience in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Since then, the 21-year-old from Beckenham, Kent, has made four trips to visit her furry friend, engaging in sleepovers and sunbathing together.
Dew, now 19 months old, is part of a successful breeding program at the conservation center, and her relationship with Heather has captured the attention of many.
“People are astonished that I can have such a close relationship with a wild animal,” Heather shared. “When she lies on top of my head, purring so contently, I can feel the love in her eyes as she stares down at me, sharing her cheetah cuddles.”
Heather recalled their friendship blossoming: “Dew would slowly come closer to me to get used to my smell and voice. I always talk to her. She is the best listener and is always keen to hear about my day and how beautiful she looks.”
Their bond solidified during a night spent together in Dew’s enclosure, where the cheetah curled up with Heather, stealing her pillow and purring softly until they both fell asleep under the stars. “When I look into her eyes, I feel safe and at home,” Heather reflected.
The Cheetah Experience, established in 2006 by Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen, aims to prevent the extinction of these magnificent animals.
Cheetahs, the fastest land animals, can reach speeds of up to 75 mph and are currently facing threats to survival.
Unlike other big cats, cheetahs are not typically known for attacking humans, although there have been rare incidents, such as when actor Adam Sandler had a close encounter on safari.
Looking ahead, Dew may one day be released into a protected area with minimal human contact, where professionals will monitor her. “Volunteering at Cheetah Experience has changed my life completely.
I have learned so much about animals, conservation, and love,” Heather said. “Working with wild animals, especially big cats, had always been a lifelong dream of mine. I truly lost my heart to the project, the people, and of course the animals. The only way to describe it is a piece of heaven on Earth that has to be seen and felt to believe it.”
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