Watch the man who has developed a special bond with a male cheetah
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50-year-old Dolph C. Volker developed a special bond with a male cheetah, Gabriel while volunteering at the Cheetah Experience Breeding Centre in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on and off for more than four years.
Dolph, who lives in America, sometimes doesn’t visit the sanctuary for a full year but still, Gabriel doesn’t forget Dolph.
In January 2018, when Dolph visited the sanctuary after one year, Gabriel immediately recognized him and their reunion melted everyone’s heart.
Dolph hand-fed Gabriel and slept next to him the entire night.
Dolph told Barcroft TV: “It takes a long time to reach an imprinting and bonding relationship with a wild animal. A wild predator. I’ve been volunteering now at Cheetah Experience for over four years. It started when Gabriel was a cub and I got to know him at eight months old.
“It was an absolute joy. We became super friends. Gabriel is very special to me for a number of reasons. Probably the biggest one is that he fulfilled a lifelong dream. I always wanted to befriend some predator.”
“He remembers all the special things we used to do and I remember what he used to like to do. You know, getting up close, putting his paws on my shoulder, laying on me and grooming me.”
Dolph is now planning to move to South Africa. He is also planning to officially buy Gabriel to be with him in his own Cheetah Breeding and Conservation Project.
He said: “I started off as a volunteer at Cheetah Experience and then became an intern. And now, Gabriel is my foundation animal for the project I want to begin myself. I want to improve the breeding, rewilding and release process of captive-bred cheetahs.”
“Cheetahs are disappearing in the wild and projects like Cheetah Experience and others may be the last hope in saving this wonderful species.”
Dolph says he has never been happier than he is right now. He also says Gabriel will be on his will and if something happens to him, he will make sure Gabriel is cared for in the best possible place.
He said: “It just shows you how much this animal has touched my life. He’s changed it. Gabriel has changed my life. One day, I’ll die happy with a legacy knowing I made a difference.”