Monarto Zoological Park "Meet our Cheetahs" Lisa meets the cats in the Murrayland region of South Australia

A short drive from the Monarto Zoo carpark and the remote sensor gates open out to a little slice of Africa. From the open plains of the Dark Continent to the dry plains of the South Australian mallee, the Monarto experience takes us into a new world where giraffe, zebra and eland roam free over country farmed by the Bretag family up until the early sixties. Not that long ago, Mr Bretag's harvester would reap bags of wheat from the paddocks where giraffe now graze.

Today, we're heading to one of Monarto's most popular attractions, the cheetah cubs that captured the headlines when they first arrived on the scene back in 2004.

They've grown a tad over the past few years but Asker, Tsotsie and Skukuza have lost none of their hunting instincts. They're just about fully-grown and were hand reared by their head keeper Michelle Lloyd, after a number of their brothers and sisters died shortly after birth.

Sadly their mum picked up an infection while feeding and so the Monarto keepers took the brave decision to hand feed the remaining cubs. Monarto has a wonderful track record having bred nine cubs in captivity. But because of their genetic makeup they are very susceptible to disease, hence the foot bath for any visitor who comes near.

"There are fifteen thousand cheetah world wide," said Michelle. "About 3,000 are in captivity while the rest are in the wild. The largest population of wild cheetah is in Namibia."

In the wilds of Namibia, they'll reach speeds of nearly 130 kilometres an hour when chasing down gazelle or impala.

"They chase their prey and trip them up by their dew claw. They've actually got the largest dew claw of all the big cats compared to their body size."

To see the cheetahs at play, you'd think butter wouldn't melt in their mouth until Michelle reminds me small children are denied the visit behind the fence because the cheetahs would see them as "lunch".

The "meet our cheetah" experience costs $165 per person. To book contact 8534 4100. To get to Monarto Zoo head up the freeway and take the Monarto exit and follow the signs. If you have any further question please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Monarto Zoological Park "Meet Our Cheetah" Turn off freeway at Monarto Exit Cost $165 per person Bookings 8534 4100 More information www.monartozp.com.au

  Published 5th November 2006