"This painting is about the promise of a partnership I believe in," says Guy Combes. "The ranch my family is associated with in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, Soysambu, has become a nature conservancy. Wild cheetahs have not been seen at Soysambu for over 6 years, but a long-term feasibility study by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) has been undertaken to assess the possibility of trans-locating them here from areas where their survival is threatened. Part of that plan is to set up a sanctuary on the Soysambu Conservancy with the help of Action for Cheetahs in Kenya and Project Survival's Cat Haven in California.

As you can see, Soysambu is an ideal location for the cheetah. Project Survival had commissioned me to paint their cheetah, Tango, who came from South Africa and was raised at their fabulous Cat Haven facility outside Fresno, California. I suggested that in the spirit of the project, he be the first 'trans-location' to Soysambu. In the background is one of Soysambu's most recognizable landmarks, a small volcano named 'The Sleeping Warrior.'"