While leopards may never change their spots, Sylvester the cheetah has defied expectations, forging an incredible bond with his trainer after being rescued as an orphaned cub.
Now four years old, Sylvester has become a close companion to 31-year-old Ed Oelofse, an animal carer from Zimbabwe.
Despite his wild instincts, Sylvester sits comfortably beside Oelofse, who has cared for him since he was found abandoned.
A cheetah could easily harm a human in a natural environment, but this relationship tells a different story.
Sylvester’s tragic past began when a lion killed his mother and four siblings. Alone and vulnerable, he was discovered and brought to the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary in Victoria Falls, where Oelofse has been by his side ever since.
“Sylvester is incredible. I’m just so grateful we could rescue him,” Oelofse shared, expressing her deep connection to the animal.
Through careful training and dedication, Oelofse has worked with Sylvester to make him calm and approachable, allowing her to interact closely without fear.
“I’ve spent my whole life working with animals,” Oelofse explained, recounting how she started at her family’s photographic safari park before transitioning to wildlife care. Her previous experience involved managing lions and teaching them to interact with people.
Shifting from lions to cheetahs required Oelofse to adapt to different behaviors quickly. Along with two other guides, she took on the responsibility of helping Sylvester become an ambassador for wildlife conservation.
They ensured he was comfortable with public interactions and took him on daily walks to keep him active and stimulated.
One of their efforts to promote conservation involves bringing rural schoolchildren to the sanctuary.
Every Friday, Oelofse and her team would pick up around 20 children, many of whom had never seen animals like cheetahs or elephants.
“Some saw these animals as pests,” she explained. The goal was to help them better understand wildlife and its role in preserving natural habitats.
Oelofse has been the cheetah manager for nearly four years and has formed a unique bond with Sylvester. “In most photos, I used a self-timer, but Gift Siziba, my fellow guide and handler, also took some of me with Sylvester,” she added.
This extraordinary connection between Sylvester and Oelofse is a testament to the power of dedication and compassion in wildlife conservation.
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