chettah with men: A wildlife photographer awakens from a nap beneath a tree with chettah
chettah with men: A wildlife photographer awakens from a nap beneath a tree with… A Cheetah Asleeping Against Him
After a strenuous day in the sun, picture yourself falling asleep beneath a tree and waking up to the soft prod of a cheetah in the wild curled up against you.
This isn’t how a fable or tale around the campfire begins. This is what occurred to wildlife photographer and animal lover Dolph Volker at one of his volunteer assignments at South Africa’s Cheetah Experience, an endangered species sanctuary.
Giving Back to the Community chettah with men
Like anyone’s love for their pet, Dolph’s adventure with animals started off this way. Following the death of his cherished dog, Dolph discovered a new purpose in life: promoting animal rights and increasing public awareness of endangered species.
His dedication brought him to the Cheetah Experience, a sanctuary where servals, lions, leopards, and of course, cheetahs seek safety from natural predators.
A Sleep to Remember chettah with men
Dolph only wanted to get away from the scorching sun for a little while on the day of the unforgettable encounter. Unaware that he would soon be sharing his makeshift bed with an inquisitive cheetah called Eden, he took comfort under a tree.
Eden, maybe attracted by his presence, crept up on him while he slept and took a nap next to him. Dolph was startled but delighted by the trust and affection displayed by this gorgeous creature when Eden finally gave him a gentle prod.
Capturing the Moment
With his camera by his side, Dolph didn’t miss the opportunity to document this extraordinary event. The photos and videos he captured show Eden displaying an unexpected gentleness, nuzzling against him, playfully biting, and even licking him.
These tender interactions have not only strengthened his bond with the cheetahs he works to protect but have also made him a beacon of hope for animal conservationists worldwide.
An Ambassador for Cheetahs
Who is the man who sleeps with cheetahs?
Bedded down with three cheetahs was the biologist and volunteer of the Bloemfontein, South Africa-based Cheetah Experience Breeding Center.
Volker tests what he terms a “ancient question” in an epic and amazing video: Would cheetahs rather spend the night curled up with a human friend and some cushions and blankets or sleep alone on cold, hard concrete? And the outcomes were really obvious.
All three of the experiment’s cheetahs were snugly nestled into a mound with Volker in a matter of hours.
Volker explains in the movie that there is usually one leader in male cheetah groups, and that leader is usually older and more fearless than the other group members.
According to Volker during his trial, the oldest cheetah approached him first and cuddled up to him like a domestic cat would. Subsequently, the two cheetahs succeeded in sneaking themselves into the cuddle session.
chettah with men Video
Over 18 million people have watched Volker’s video to date. Volker appears in other large cat films on his YouTube channel, such as one showing the reactions of cheetahs, servals, caracals, and leopards to catnip and another showing the touching reunion between Volker and Gabriel, a cheetah.
I’m Hassan Saeed, a Clinical Psychology graduate deeply engaged in the realms of WordPress, blogging, and technology. I enjoy merging my psychological background with the digital landscape. Let’s connect and explore these exciting intersections!
