3 Cheetahs Killed in Steenbokpan
R100,000 Reward 

Steenbokpan – Conservationists and wildlife lovers are reeling after the tragic killing of three free-roaming cheetahs in the Steenbokpan area of Limpopo at the end of June 2025. The Cheetah Outreach Trust has now offered a reward of R100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

According to Deon Cilliers, conservation manager at the Cheetah Outreach Trust, the cheetahs were seemingly deliberately run over by a vehicle. In a shocking attempt to cover up the incident, the satellite tracking collar fitted to one of the cheetahs was removed and buried.

“These cheetahs had been collared near Lephalale in April this year in a collaborative project with landowners and Rhino911,” said Cilliers. “The goal was to monitor their movements as part of the Free Roaming Cheetah Census and to provide farmers with accurate scientific data to help mitigate human-wildlife conflict.”

The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) has since opened a police case. Killing cheetahs is not only a devastating blow to conservation but also a serious wildlife crime.

Although Steenbokpan lies nearly two hours’ drive from Thabazimbi, both areas share the same reliance on wildlife and farming for tourism and local economic growth. Incidents like this strike at the heart of the region’s economy, where eco-tourism and agriculture are cornerstones of livelihoods. Protecting endangered wildlife is therefore not just about conservation — it’s about safeguarding future prosperity.

The Cheetah Outreach Trust is urging members of the public to come forward. “Every cheetah life matters,” Cilliers emphasised. “Cheetahs are endangered, and protecting them is critical for biodiversity.”

Cilliers stressed that the Trust’s focus is on cooperation, not conflict, with landowners. “We are definitely not here to conduct a witch hunt on farmers — our 20 years of working in farming communities have shown that collaboration is the key. Farmers experiencing predation issues with cheetahs are encouraged to contact us. We run an active and highly successful conflict-mitigation programme, including our Anatolian Livestock Guardian Dog Project, with more than 400 dogs already placed on farms to protect livestock. In addition, sightings of free-roaming cheetahs should be reported, as this data is vital for our Free Roaming Cheetah Census, which spans over 19 million hectares of farmland in South Africa. But deliberate and unjustified wildlife crimes must be taken seriously and dealt with by the authorities.”

Anyone with information can contact the Trust on 082 853 1068 or via email at info@cheetahoutreachtrust.co.za. All tip-offs will be treated confidentially.