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Steph petting a domesticated cheetah at the preserve. Cheetahs were customarily kept as pets in the courts of royalty. They were known for their peaceful and docile disposition and hunting prowess. This Cheetah was born in captivity and cannot be returned to the wild. It is used for outreach programs such as school visits to raise awareness about the endangered status of the wild cheetah. All proceeds from the interactive sessions such as the one Steph participated in are used to purchase Turkish Anatolian Shepard dogs. The dogs are given to Namibian farmers to guard their herds. As Cheetahs will not attack anything bigger than themselves, the large dogs are effective in keeping the wild cheetahs away from the farmer's herds. Since the free dog program was started, farmer shootings of cheetahs in Namibia have dropped by over 50%. Shots from the Cape Town area and our journey. See the "e-postcard from KwaZulu-Natal" for descriptions and information.