Sasha, the cheetah, overcame great adversity to find a safe, forever home… eventually.
Free State, South Africa (16 October 2022) – The rescue story of Sasha the cheetah, the only resident cheetah at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, is one of resilience in the face of great adversity.
LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary is a project by the global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS and is home to over 100 big cats rescued from around the world. Here they are protected for the rest of their lives in a species-appropriate environment.
Sasha arrived at LIONSROCK on 8 October 2014 but his story began in August 2011 when a farmer found him close to the Botswana border after the farmer noticed a sheep carcass with cheetah spoor close by. It was suspected that Sasha’s mother was killed in the area, and he was left alone trying to fend for himself. This would have forced the little cheetah to prey on sheep as he was hungry and in a terrible condition.
He was treated by a vet and put under the care of a cheetah custodian. The Endangered Wildlife Trust, which runs a cheetah-rewilding programme, was contacted and one-year-old Sasha began the process of trying to bond with other male cheetahs. Unfortunately, all attempts failed.
After an adaption period, Sasha was released in February 2013 into a private game reserve and slowly started to hunt.
In September 2013, just before his move to a new reserve, he was almost fatally injured by a wildebeest. With his left hind leg shattered, he had to undergo intensive medical treatment. Unfortunately, amputation was the only way that he would be able to live without constant pain.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust asked LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary to give Sasha a permanent home, as he needed a safe place to spend the rest of his life.
And just this week, this beautiful cheetah celebrated eight years of happiness at the big cat sanctuary.
“Eight wonderful years of him calling LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary his home. He might only have three legs, but he is as graceful, strong and fast as any cheetah.”
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