Annie Mears, [15 Oct 2024 at 09:59:49]: Does anyone know of any literature reviewing the fitting of tracking collars to cheetah and exactly how it ‘should’ be done? This is for a research review. Adrian Tordiffe, 15 October 2024 Hi Annie. No there is no published literature on the fitting of tracking collars on cheetahs that I am aware of. The loose fitting of collars is by far the biggest problem. Cheetahs can easily push the collar around the front of the mandible getting it stuck in the mouth. It is really important to fit them so that only a single finger can be placed under the collar and there should be absolutely no chance of you being able to pull the collar off. There are also no guidelines regarding the maximum weight of collars relative to body mass... The satellite collars from AWT are a bit heavy, but even smaller females seem to tolerate them well. For a research project, it is critical that the researchers’ budget and plan for collar removal. Jacques ODell, 16 October 2024 I agree with Adrian Be careful when fitting collars to animals that were in a boma for a long time where they may have gained weight and girth around the neck. They may become mean and lean when they are released, then those collars end up being too loose. A collar that looks a little tight is likely to have been fitted perfectly. A collar that looks comfortable around the neck is likely too loose. After fitting the nuts loosely, try your utmost best to get the collar over the lower jaw. If you can do so, or nearly do so, tighten the collar and try again. For most collars, I insert my index and middle finger between the neck/leg and collar, flat on the animal. They should go in without effort. When I turn them, 90’, so my one finger is on the animal and the other against the collar, they should fit very tight, or it must not be possible to turn them a full 90’. I find this gives me a good fit. Obviously growing animals are a little trickier and best avoided to fit collars to them.
