Cheetah Kingdom on ITV1

10th September 2010

Tonight (10th September) ITV1 will air the first episode of brand new animal documentary series ‘Cheetah Kingdom’.

Following the work of former cameraman David Houghton and the dedicated team at AfriCat Foundation cheetah sanctuary in central Namibia, the show will focus on the importance of their big cat conservation efforts.

Although the fastest mammal on Earth, the cheetah is a delicate species due to their narrow bloodline and high volume of predators that prey on them, not to mention their finicky dietary habits.

Drawing on footage captured in the private reserve since late April, the new 12-part documentary series follows the fate of 13 captive cheetahs on their road to rehabilitation.

The team at the AfriCat Foundation have recently completed a 40,000-acre reserve designed to give rescued cheetahs a stepping-stone to life back in the wild. In this episode, the team face an emergency when a cheetah begins overheating during a routine health check - a potentially fatal problem for the small big cat. which could cause the animal irreparable brain damage.

However, on a lighter and much more satisfying note, the programme will also show rehabilitated cheetahs take their first steps back on the road to freedom.

Exodus has been operating adventure holidays to Namibia for many years where people can enjoy sightings of these fleet-footed cats in their natural habitat. A number of our trips to Namibia visit Etosha National Park, which is home to a magnificent array of wildlife, including the spotted cats.

However, for those interested in cheetah conservation, a couple of our Namibia holidays also take you to the Africat Foundation in the Otjiwarongwe area, south-west of Etosha.

Blessed with an abundance of wildlife and spectacularly varied scenery, Namibia is must-visit destination for all animal enthusiasts.

Follow the show’s stars, Cyclops, Hammer, Bones, Spud, Coco, Twiggy, Charlie and Trish when Cheetah Kingdom starts tonight on ITV1 at 8:30pm.