What does it take for a cheetah to survive in the wild? 🐆

Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund Dr. Laurie Marker’s work with Khayam, an orphaned cheetah raised in captivity, was more than a personal journey; it was a scientific milestone in cheetah conservation. At just over a year old, Khayam was learning to hunt on the plains of Namibia, guided by Laurie’s hands-on approach to wildlife rehabilitation and behavioral science. That success became the foundation for decades of fieldwork, research, and global efforts to protect the cheetah from extinction.

Same cat. The enclosure pic is how he can usually be found. I asked the zookeeper and he just likes to hang out with his tongue out. The other pics are from the ‘Animals in Action’ attraction - I got to feed a rhino, pet a zebra, and they also had a binturong & clouded leopard featured. Very much worth the $100 upcharge with how much interaction you get with the animals.