Cats are often labeled aloof, but that’s not the case for Dolph C Volker and his best friend, Gabriel, a cheetah.
Dolph, 50, lives in the U.S. but volunteers at the Cheetah Experience Breeding Centre in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Over the past four years, he has formed a unique bond with Gabriel, a cheetah he first met when the animal was just eight months old.
Whenever Dolph returns to South Africa, Gabriel greets him with hugs and affectionate licks despite often being apart for more than a year.
During a visit in January 2018, Dolph hand-fed Gabriel and even spent an entire night sleeping beside him in the open.
“It takes a long time to build a bond with a wild predator,” Dolph told Barcroft TV. “It started when Gabriel was a cub. We became super friends, and he remembers all the special things we used to do together, like putting his paws on my shoulder and grooming me.”
Cheetah Experience, a non-profit breeding center, is home to various big cats, including leopards, lions, and a tiger.
Last year, Dolph deepened his connection with Gabriel by officially purchasing him, making him Gabriel’s legal owner.
This allows Dolph to visit Gabriel’s enclosure anytime and stay updated on his health while back in the U.S.
Despite their close bond, Dolph remains cautious when interacting with Gabriel, fully aware of the risks involved.
“I’m still learning about him. After long absences, I approach carefully. I don’t just rush in and grab a cheetah I haven’t seen in a year,” he explained. “Cheetahs are powerful animals, and while I’ve never been attacked, they have injured me.”
Studies indicate cheetahs are generally non-aggressive towards humans, preferring smaller prey like antelope-sized animals.
Dolph ensures Gabriel’s diet is as natural as possible, providing him with 2.3 kg of red meat daily and occasionally treating him to special game meat like a horse or wild game.
Looking ahead, Dolph plans to move to South Africa to launch his Cheetah Breeding and Conservation Project, using Gabriel as the foundation.
“I started as a volunteer, then an intern, and now Gabriel is key to my plans. I want to enhance the breeding, rewilding, and release of captive-bred cheetahs,” he said.
Dolph is committed to conservation efforts as cheetah populations decline in the wild. “Gabriel has changed my life.
One day, I’ll die knowing I made a difference,” Dolph shared, adding that Gabriel will always be cared for, even after Dolph is gone.
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