Born to Run

Photographer

Brian Oliver

Category

Nature Photography - Wildlife

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2026

Country / Region:

United States

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre in South Africa plays an important role in cheetah conservation and rewilding, preparing captive-raised cheetahs with the skills necessary to eventually return to the wild. This photograph captures one of four 18-month-old siblings during lure training, an exercise used to build physical fitness and reinforce the natural pursuit instincts essential for hunting. Through carefully managed training and rehabilitation, centers like HESC give endangered cheetahs a greater opportunity to survive and reproduce in the wild, contributing to the conservation of a species under increasing pressure.