Man lives among cheetahs to save hyena

Albert Kriel moved into a man-made cave to raise awareness and funds for the brown hyena

Albert Kriel, the founder of the Brown Hyena Survival Trust, has been sharing his living space with seven cheetahs since the beginning of December. Kriel moved into a man-made cave at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve to raise awareness and funds for the brown hyena, which is an endangered species.

Kriel has given up some of his meals, his inflatable mattress and cushions to his cheetah friends. But, it is all for a good cause. Farmers shoot the brown hyenas, thinking that they hunt livestock. The hyenas' diet consists mainly of carrion, vegetables and fruit.

Visitors to Kriel's site have donated R7 000 of the R21 000 needed for a breeding programme. The programme's success will only be felt in about 15 years, since the brown hyena gives birth to two or three babies once every three years. The breeding camps will be located at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.