A cheetah's spine can extend to lengthen its stride, and is so flexible that its hind legs are brought forward to completely straddle the forelegs when running at full speed. The only cat to have non retractable claws, and grooved pads that contribute to the cheetahs astounding performance.
An endangered species worldwide, Botswana's cheetah population is rapidly declining due to clashes with cattle farmers. In the Ghanzi district of Northwestern Botswana, farmers are now encouraged to capture rather than shoot the problem cheetahs. Professional advice is being made available to the farmers on the best methods to be employed.

Sunday, the 25th of May 1997, saw the launching of the Cheetah Transit Station as Mokolodi Nature Reserve. The transit station is to serve primarily as a holding point for captured cheetah until a suitable place for their release is found.

Relocated cheetah are radio collared by the Kalahari Conservation Society's relocation programme and monitored following their release. Several successful relocations have already taken place in Botswana to date, both at Jwaneng mine, and Orapa mine, Debswana Diamond Company have taken cheetahs into their wildlife resurves.

Two cheetah are presently residing in Mokolodi, Duma and Letaotse, both almost three years of age, were orphaned as cubs when farmers shot their mother in the Ghanzi area for preying on livestock. Unable to fend for themselves, the cubs were rescued from certain death and hand reared by humans. They will remain permanently at Mokolodi to partake in breeding programmes and to educate the public. The transit station aims not only to educate the general public as to the future of the cheetah in the wild but to offer a scientifically designed holding facility and research station to be used by researchers worldwide.

The complex is also intended to accommodate other predators experiencing similar problems, such as the most endangered large carnivore in africa The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus). Duma and Letaotse have the chance to partake in another of Mokolodi's projects the animal adoption programme.