RESCUE PROFILE: MENELIK.

(text and images courtesy of the Born Free Foundation)

SPECIES: Cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus )
SEX: Male
FOUND: NE Ethiopia
RESCUED: Late 2008
APPROX. AGE AT RESCUE: 4 months

Menelik was found as a cub by a development worker in a dusty town on the edge of a north eastern desert of Ethiopia . The male cub was tied by a string at the back of a shop.

Very small and clearly malnourished, the development worker begged the shop assistant to let her take the cub to a vet in Addis. The shop assistant refused and alternately patted and then kicked the cub.

The development worker took a digital photo and tried to convince as many people as possible that the animal needed medical care but locally the welfare of an animal did not have much of a priority.

Thankfully, the digital photo was sent to Born Free Ethiopia who contacted the Wildlife Authority. After the Wildlife Authority had given permission for the animal to be confiscated, a veterinarian who generously donates her time to Born Free Ethiopia collected the cub and gave it intensive care for a few days. The cub had been fed such a poor diet it could hardly use its back legs.

Since his rescue, Menelik has been housed in a temporary enclosure and is thriving. His back legs no longer show signs of malnutrition and Menelik bears no resemblance to the forlorn tiny cheetah he once was.

Menelik will be rehomed to a large naturalistic enclosure with another rescued male cheetah, Sheba , within the Wildlife Rescue, Conservation and Education Centre.

ANNUAL BUDGET REQUIRED TO CARE FOR MENELIK:

This years Wildlife Walk will be raising money to support Menelik.
Please download a sponsorship form here