Australia’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo has welcomed a charming spotted cheetah cub named Siri into its family, fostering an unexpected friendship to help her socialize.
At just eight weeks old, Siri was paired with Iris, a retriever cross mastiff, after her mother, Halla, rejected her shortly after birth.
Since their introduction, the two have enjoyed playing football together during their short play sessions, becoming increasingly inseparable. However, like any unique friendship, they have experienced their share of squabbles.
Linda Mathews, a zookeeper at the Western Plains Zoo, shared that Siri sometimes exhibits dramatic behavior, stating, “Siri can be a bit of a drama queen; she makes loud noises and swipes at Iris.”
Despite these playful antics, Mathews noted that their relationship improves with each play session, as Siri eagerly returns for more interaction.
Cheetah litters typically consist of three to five cubs, which increases their chances of survival in the wild. Unfortunately, Siri was the only cub in her litter, born on May 21.
In cases where only one cub is born, the mother may reject it, recognizing that the chances of survival in the wild are slim.
Mathews explained, “We were on alert when we knew there was only one cub, and after 24 hours, based on what we were seeing, we intervened to give Siri the best chance of survival.”
Cheetahs are considered vulnerable in the wild, making every birth significant for the species. Mathews emphasized Siri’s potential importance, stating, “Siri may one day have a very important role to play for her species as part of the regional breeding program.”
Taronga Western Plains Zoo has a successful history of breeding cheetahs, with litters born in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2013.
Despite these efforts, the global cheetah population has been declining, from approximately 12,000 in Africa to around 9,000, with only about 200 remaining in isolated populations in Iran.
Read more Wildlife News.