The Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Center for Endangered Species (the Center) is situated on 100 hectares within the Kapama Private Game Reserve, a reserve found near the town of Hoedspruit in the Northern Province of South Africa.Established in 1988, the Center is the brain-child of Lente Roode, the wife of successful businessman Johan Roode. It was initially established as a breeding programmed for the then endangered cheetah, but following the enormous success of the cheetah breeding program, has evolved into a legitimate breeding program for other endangered African animal species. The ultimate objective of the Center is to return endangered African species to the wild once their numbers have increased to such an extent that they can be released. Needless to say, this is a long-term objective which requires substantial commitment, both human and financial.

One of the most successful cheetah release projects was undertaken in June 1993, when two cheetahs were set free on the 2 000 hectare Hoedspruit Air Force Base. The Air Force Base had been faced with a severe safety hazard caused by small game wandering onto the runways. By all indications the pair have been successful in hunting game and are, in fact, thriving in their new environment. Following the success of this project two more cheetah were released onto the nature reserve surrounding the Louis Trichardt Air Force Base on September 1996, and all indications are that they are as successful as the Hoedspruit pair in adapting to their new surroundings. Seven years down the road visitors to the Center are able to see, at close range, successful breeding programs involving cheetah, the rare African wild dog, the African ground hornbill, the blue crane, the aardwolf and other cat species such as the African wild cat, serval and black-footed cat. A group of bald ibis will soon be introduced to the Center as well.

In 1995, the Center became home to two African wild cats when Dr Ferdi Schoeman of the Pretoria National Zoo invited the Center to assist with the Zoo's African cat breeding program. The first litter of this endangered cat species was born at the Center in September 1996. At present, a four-month-old elephant bull is being cared for at the Center. A seemingly rare male lion with a distinctive black mane can also be viewed at the Center. This predator was rescued from a Mozambican zoo in late 1996. Initial research indicates that this lion (species) is very different to any lion found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed that this particular lion may be related to the extinct Cape lion which became extinct in the northern Cape in 1850.

Funding of the Center.

Funding of the Center is generated by gate takings as well as sales from the Center's curio shop. It is essentially a non-profit organization as all revenue is ploughed back into the running of the Center. The objective is not to run the Center for financial gain but as an operation that will make a fundamental contribution to the preservation of Africa's endangered animal species.

The African Wild Dog Program.

In May 1991, an African wild dog program was initiated with the arrival of seven dogs which had broken away from a pack of twenty on the nearby Klaserie Nature Reserve. The pack had been under threat from local farmers as the African wild dog is known to take livestock.

In association with the Zoology Department of the University of Pretoria, the Center is studying this rare African mammal's behavior patterns and breeding potential with the objective of ultimately releasing the pack into a suitable wilderness area. The success to date of this program can be seen in the present size of the pack, i.e. nineteen dogs.

The Vulture Restaurant

Visitors are also able to witness feeding sessions of various rare African vultures as the birds swoop down into the Center en route to a specially designed feeding platform known as a "vulture restaurant". These vultures are fed the remains of carcasses left over from the feeding of other animals at the Center, thus ensuring that nature's food chain is maintained.

The Ground Hornbill Program.

The Center presently has six ground hornbills in its breeding program which is run in association with the Pretoria Zoo. A specially designed cage was constructed which features uniquely built perches and swings, large trees, nesting sites, and measures six meters in height.

This bird species is best known for the strange sound it makes as well as its adherence to the Kane and Able syndrome, i.e. the first born kills off the second born chick. To prevent this, the second born is removed from the nest and raised by personnel at the Center.

The Kapama Veterinary Hospital.

On 22 April 1995, the Kapama Veterinary Hospital was officially opened at the Center. Headed by full-time veterinary surgeon, Dr Peter Rogers, the hospital consists of a consulting room, a fully equipped operating room and a quarantine section with special temperature control and other monitoring facilities.

The hospital plays a major role in the Center's research program's on the breeding of endangered animal species in captivity and is assisted by a Research Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Nick Kriek of the University of Pretoria. At times the Center, and particularly the hospital, is called upon to assist in the rehabilitation of other animal species which have been injured or become destitute.

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