Home of the once endangered Cheetah, the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre has switched its microchip identification for all of its animals, to Identipet, South Africa's premier microchipping and animal identification medium.

The De Wildt Cheetah Center was established in 1971 when the total population of cheetahs was estimated at only 700. It has since become synonymous with the breeding and reintroduction to the wild, of not only cheetahs, but also other endangered animal species such as wild dog, brown hyena, serval, red duiker, riverine rabbit and Egyptian vultures.

The regal King Cheetah, with its black tear-lines (giving the animal its characteristic sad look), once a curiosity of the wild, was first bred at De Wildt in 1981. Due to the total dedication of Ann van Dyk (owner of De Wildt), and her colleagues, over 600 cheetah cubs have since been bred, and the cheetah is now removed from the list of endangered animal species.

De Wildt has chosen Identipet's new BioTherm microchip for their cheetah. These microchips provide the capability of not only positive identification, but also the unique feature of monitoring the animal's body temperature, to assist in breeding, or treatment in times of illness or stress.

The first of De Wildt's animals implanted with Identipet microchips by curator Alan Strachan, were the 2004 Wild Dog pups, soon to be followed by the year's crop of cheetah cubs. BioBond™, Identipet's unique and patented anti-migration cap, will be particularly essential in assuring the scanning site, in these agile animals.

Identipet (Pty) Ltd is proud to have been chosen by De Wildt (yet another high profile user) as the supplier and sponsor of their microchipping, scanning and identification needs.

For more information on this unique animal centre visit De Wildt at http://www.dewildt.org.za/