NathanA Big Shock
So what happened when Gabriel charged towards Dolph? Well, the other people who were witnessing this thing that happened at the Cheetah Experience center were beginning to feel as though the cheetah had gone mad. They were in fear for Dolph C. Volker as they thought it went ahead to attack him. But after a few seconds, all their fears were left relieved because it was not to hurt Dolph at all. The cheetah was merely running towards the human to give him a hug and lick his face, feeling overjoyed.
It Couldn’t Stop
Well, the licking and the embrace did not stop and continued for a long period of time. Gabriel was not going to be taken away from the man that took him in and nursed him back to health years ago. It was such a sweet moment for them and the cheetah was still not done. Gabriel refused to leave Dolph’s side and was still holding on tightly. He was giving him the warmest and tightest hug he could possibly give, rubbing his nose on the man he had missed so much.
Gabriel’s Strange Behavior
How would you react if you saw a cheetah running towards you and obviously coming for physical contact? It would definitely be scary for Dolph even though he was responsible for nursing Gabriel back to health. It was truly an odd behavior for a big feline like Gabriel. Even if he had been living inside the house for a long time, this kind of behavior really is weird. We do not usually see cats showing love and affection to their human friend, unlike dogs.
Dolph Imprinted On Gabriel
It is truly uncommon to see that a human being and a wildly known predator can share such a strong connection. While most of us would run away from a cheetah, this man actually gives him a hug. Gabriel’s and Dolph C. Volker’s friendship is certainly a one of a kind bond that does not happen so often. The Cheetah Volunteer managed to have imprinted on the young Cheetah which basically means that this cheetah has chosen to recognize Dolph as an alpha male or his master.
Dolph Misses Gabriel Too
When an animal has chosen to accept you as a companion, it is most likely that you will remain unforgotten. Even in this case, Gabriel does not seem to forget who Dolph is. The two of them have grown so close that they do not even have trouble catching up even after months of not meeting each other. Now whenever Dolph has the chance to travel to South Africa, he is sure to find a friend and a home that will always be there for him, in Gabriel, the energetic Cheetah.
Wildlife Rescuer’s Words
So it would definitely be interesting to ask about what exactly goes through Dolph’s head when he makes friends with these cheetahs, particularly Gabriel. Well, you would be surprised to find out that it does take a lot of time, patience and effort to be able to get through to wild animals. Dolph recently spoke about his relationship with Gabriel and how it started, “It takes a lot of time to reach that imprinting stage with a wild animal – a wild predator to be specific.”