SIFAKA BLOG

When we have to pick-up cheetah scat, or poop, to collect information about our cheetahs, we often need to know which scat came from which cheetah. But how can you tell? One method that we use is to use “markers” on the different cheetahs. A marker is simply some type of thing that you put into an individual cheetah’s food, and each cheetah gets a different marker. Then, on the next day, you will find that marker in the scat and you will know which cheetah’s scat you are collecting. Some of the markers we use include raw kidney beans, rice, peas, and corn. The important thing to remember is just that you have to keep track of the different markers you are feeding to each cheetah. Otherwise, it won’t work!