Zuko's Recovery

On 3 February, Zuko was sedated for X-rays. The results immediately changed the tone of the situation. The scans revealed fracture areas near the joint - not a simple injury, but one with potentially severe consequences. The clinical realities were distressing: preserving full function of the leg would require specialist intervention. Without it, the alternatives included amputation, or in a worst-case scenario, euthanasia.

The response was swift and decisive. Zuko would receive the advanced care he needed.

On 11 February, he travelled to Vetscape Animal Hospital in Paarl. There, a CT scan provided a clearer understanding of the injury: a distal tibia fracture just above the tarsal joint. Under the care of specialist surgeon Dr Charlie Boucher, the fracture was stabilised using a cross-pinning technique - the most appropriate solution given the nature of the break.

Technically, the surgery was successful. Yet orthopaedic recovery, particularly in an animal built for explosive acceleration and high-impact movement, is rarely simple.

In the days that followed, Zuko’s progress was monitored with exceptional care by our zoological team and local veterinarian Dr Shaun Sagor. Then came the first complication. Bandages began loosening, and one of the pins showed signs of migration. Adjustments were made, and the wound was stabilised. 

For a brief period, all seemed well, however, further examinations revealed that the pin was again becoming problematic. Rather than improving stability, it was contributing to tissue irritation and an enlarging wound site. The clinical decision was made to remove it. However, the fracture gap remained too large to leave unsupported. A replacement procedure became unavoidable.

Transporting Zuko once more would have introduced additional stress at a critical stage of recovery. Instead, an alternative solution was arranged. In a remarkable demonstration of professional collaboration, Dr Boucher travelled to Oudtshoorn directly to perform the corrective surgery locally. A longer, more suitable pin was inserted, restoring stability while minimising disruption to Zuko.

Behind these clinical milestones lay a quieter, less visible story. But one that captures the passion that our facility is founded on.

Orthopaedic recovery demands strict movement control and precisely timed medication. Zuko’s sedation cycles and treatment schedule required constant adjustment. Staff routines shifted accordingly, often extending well beyond normal working hours. Curators Leandra Koukakis and Riëtte Koortzen remained on site late into the evenings, often staying overnight, to ensure Zuko stayed calm, safe, and received the care and medication he required.

These were not isolated acts of dedication, but a sustained commitment over weeks of uncertainty.

Parallel to the medical journey ran another critical challenge: funding. Specialist imaging, surgery, travel, and aftercare carry substantial costs. Yet once again, Cango witnessed something deeply moving. Supporters, donors, and well-wishers responded with generosity and urgency. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Foundation Director, Carmen Jacbos, contributions flowed in through our non-profit arm, the Cheetah Preservation Foundation, enabling not only the initial operation but also the corrective procedure.

R73 000.00 was raised in only a few days and Zuko’s procedures and recovery remained steady and uninterrupted as a result. Every intervention Zuko needed was made possible through this collective kindness.

Today, Zuko continues his recovery within our on-site Care Centre, a facility generously sponsored by long-term benefactor Pierre Zimmerman. In a fitting reflection of cheetah social bonds, his brother Zeus spends time beside him, providing calm companionship during the healing process. Zuri however, has outgrown the need for her brothers and now has her own habitat.

Zuko’s story serves as a powerful reminder of an essential truth in wildlife care: accidents are an unavoidable reality, even in environments built around the highest welfare standards. What defines a facility is not the absence of challenges, but the response to them.

His journey is ultimately one of rapid clinical assessment, interdisciplinary cooperation, staff dedication beyond duty, and community support beyond expectation. Most importantly, it is a story of responsibility.

Because when animals are in our care, their wellbeing is never optional.