NathanWhat He Feels
Dolph knows that these animals are not exposed to humans and so it was going to be hard to try and penetrate into their minds to be able to make them trust him. Even in the case of Gabriel, he admits that he was lucky as he was able to spend time with him when the cheetah was only a cub. He adds on to what he feels about his relationship with Gabriel claiming, “It all started when this Cheetah was a little cub and I think I just got to know him at the right tender age. It was an absolute joy to become friends with Gabriel.”
It Took Time
Well, if you’re thinking that it would have been tough for Dolph to get through to Gabriel, then you are absolutely right. It was not an easy task for the volunteer to gain the cheetah’s respect and trust. It was definitely a challenge for him to somehow get to be friends with the wild predator. So, Dolph Volker’s time with the Cheetah was not too nice in the begin. The dear cheetah did not want to get close to him at all when they first met.
Things Soon Changed
It was a bumpy ride in the beginning and Dolph would sometimes get a little frustrated when Gabriel did not want to let him in initially. To receive that level of trust, Dolph had to put in a lot of effort and had to be very persistent in dealing with the cheetah. It was only quite recent that Gabriel allowed him to hand feed him because he still did not earn that level of “trust”. But in the end, Dolph proved that he was a good person that left the cheetah to fall in love with him.
Gabriel And Dolph’s Unique Bond
So you have to ask why Dolph was so adamant about getting through to the cheetah. Was there something about Gabriel that made him feel like he needed to win over the animal? It turns out that Gabriel was special and different for Dolph for a number of reasons. It would have been very hard for Dolph not to get close to him because he was not only opening up only to him, he loved to cuddle and hug, unlike other wild cats. In fact, Gabriel did not even want to stay with the other caretakers.
Separation Time
So what happened when the time came for Dolph to head back home in the U.S? Well it was a very sad time for the cheetah when his best friend had to leave. Gabriel was slowly showing signs of loneliness and depression. He did not eat properly and was not cooperating with any of the volunteer working at the Cheetah Experience. The staff working there were beginning to fear for his life because the cat’s behavior was starting to affect his health.
Calling Dolph
So, as time went on, the condition and mental slump Gabriel was in was still not progressing, In fact, it grew worse and worse each month. At this point, the people were fearing for Gabriel’s life as it was going to start affecting his health. In the end, they ran out of options and did the only thing left to do. The animal shelter officials decided to call Dolph C. Volker. They were afraid the cheetah was going to die and he was the only person that could get through to him.