Kovu came to the N/a'an ku sê Foundation Wildlife Sanctuary in August 2016 - just one day after the arrival of cheetah, Roadie. He was aged between three and four months at the time. Gorgeous Kovu had been kept as a pet with the owners thankfully realising that forcing an essentially wild animal into domesticity is a fundamentally cruel act. Emphasizing the detriment of keeping a wild carnivore as a pet is the state that Kovu found himself in upon arrival at N/a'an ku sê. Having been fed a diet of predominantly dog pellets, Kovu's physical development had been negatively affected. His back legs could not fully support his body weight, our boy struggling to walk on bent limbs.  
 
But with the experienced care of sanctuary staff, and a strict diet supplemented with all necessary minerals and vitamins, Kovu gradually recovered. And this big cat did more than just recover - he grew into the largest male cheetah that the N/a'an ku sê Foundation has ever had.  
 
Today Kovu enjoys the natural environment of a large enclosure on the N/a'an ku sê Reserve. And he is not alone. Our big boy relishes the company of fellow cheetahs Roadie, Amber and Athena. Yes, he certainly is a ladies' man.  
At N/a'an ku sê we're all about giving captive animals the most stimulating and enriched lives possible. You guessed it. Our Kovu unfortunately cannot be returned to the wilds of Namibia.  He is simply too habituated to humans after the necessity of being hand raised. Human habituation significantly reduces survival chances in the wild.  
 
But mighty Kovu is provided with plenty of opportunities to embrace his natural instincts. Sprinting is a firm favourite, and he is adept at chasing the cheetah lure. That's a remotely operated pulley system that sees a rag being sent around a rectangular track at high speeds. Our spotted sprinters love getting in on the running action and chase the rag - terrifically proud when they catch it.  
 
Let our king of cheetahs enter your home with a symbolic animal adoption. For only USD 200.00 per year Kovu can be a treasured family member. And all funds raised benefit the animals of the N/a’an ku sê Foundation Wildlife Sanctuary.