A special festive baby boom at Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn

A WAVE of new life has swept through Cango Wildlife Ranch this festive season, with a remarkable number of animal births recorded over the past month including cheetah cubs and two Rainbow Lorikeet chicks, to name a few.

- STAFF REPORTER

A BABY bat during his feeding time.

As Christmas approaches, the Oudtshoorn-based sanctuary is celebrating not only these heartwarming arrivals, but also a series of rescues and ongoing rehabilitation efforts that embody the true spirit of the season.

Each new life serves as a powerful reminder that renewal and hope lie at the heart of the holidays.

The most significant arrival came on 18 November, when beautiful Uzuri, a six-year-old cheetah, gave birth to three healthy cubs. This birth holds special importance for global cheetah conservation, as Uzuri's bloodline forms part of carefully managed international breeding programmes designed to protect genetic diversity in a species facing continued decline.

"The cubs have been named Afrika, Aston, and Amandla, and while they are still very young, their individual personalities are already beginning to shine through. Afrika, a female cub, is the most outspoken of the trio. Busy, curious, and full of confidence, she has quickly earned a reputation as a sassy little character who always seems to swim upstream. Her name honours the continent that shaped the cheetah and reflects resilience, independence, and strength.