
Cheetah X-Ray
Saving the Survivors has begun 2026 exactly as our mission demands: standing in the gap for endangered wildlife when they need us most.
Early in the year, staff at a conservation centre noticed something was very wrong with Lilo, a six-year-old female cheetah. She was reluctant to move and her back foot was painfully swollen. For an animal built for speed, even the smallest injury can be life-threatening.
Once again, Saving the Survivors’ mobile X-ray unit proved to be a lifeline. Dr Zoe travelled out to the reserve and carefully darted Lilo so she could be examined safely. The radiographs told a worrying story. Lilo had not one, but three fractures in the small bones of her back left foot.
Without surgical intervention, these fractures would not heal. Left untreated, her injury would almost certainly have ended her life.
After urgent consultation with a specialist small-animal surgeon, a difficult but hopeful decision was made. The very next day, the team returned to dart Lilo again and transport her to a fully equipped veterinary facility where she could undergo the surgery she so desperately needed.
Moments like these define what Saving the Survivors does every day: rapid response, expert care, and unwavering commitment to wildlife that cannot survive without help. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Every call-out, every X-ray, every surgery is funded entirely by donations.
Because of you, Lilo was given a chance. Because of you, endangered species continue to receive the care they need to survive and thrive.
Thank you for standing with us — and with them.
















