Imvelo’s “citizen scientists” (both guests and guides) in close collaboration with our friends at Cheetah Conservation Zimbabwe have been following the cheetah that frequent our part of Hwange for many years.

In April 2016 one particular female cheetah was born near Bomani and she has been one of our favorites. She was named HNP 0046 by CCZ and then dispersed from her equally famous mother ‘Queenie’ in early 2018. Only a few months later we found her carrying a wire snare that was slowly killing her, we successfully removed the wire snare and she was nicknamed by us Cindy.

Over the years she’s flourished and we’ve watched mother 4 sets of cubs, many of whom she raised to adulthood, no mean feat in an environment very tough for cheetah cubs.

But, for well over a year now we haven’t seen Cindy. Her sister Ria and the Chiz Boys our local celebrity 2 male Coalition have been sighted regularly. But no Cindy. Previously she’s survived attacks from both Baboons and Lions and indeed sported a 15 cm scar on her left hip from a lion. So, we’ve been worried, and frankly feared the worst.

Then last week a female cheetah was spotted on the Bomani concession with a young cub at last light. Hoping for the best, perhaps unrealistically, we returned pre-dawn the following morning, and found her and her cub at the same spot. As the sun came up we got these photos and video. Staring through binos we kind of discerned a maybe fur covered scar on her left hip, but the worn canines visible when she yawned also made us hope (as Cindy would be 10 years old now)

Straight back to camp, download the photos and email them directly to Dr Lovemore Sibanda at CCZ.

And then our joy when his reply came in “We can definitely confirm that is HNP 0046 Cindy … very happy to see she’s alive and looking well … that cub looks to be 3-4 months old and I believe that’s her 5th litter …”

A few hours later in front of Bomani she stood off an aggressive male baboon and shepherded her precious young cub to safety.

The next few months are going to be very anxious for her and all of us until that cub’s legs grow a bit. Godspeed Cindy!!

📍Would you like to experience amazing sightings for yourself?
Would you like to see wild cheetahs roaming freely?

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Video and photo credit: @nyschapascoe, @butchimvelo