An orphaned male cheetah has found a new home alongside four newborn cubs at the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio.
Born 12 days before the zoo’s cubs, this young cheetah’s mother at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, could not care for him, prompting officials to relocate him to Cincinnati.
The zoo’s cubs, three males and two females, were delivered via cesarean section to their five-year-old mother, Willow, on March 8.
While Willow continues to recover from the complicated birth, the zoo staff are focused on helping the premature cubs gain strength. Unfortunately, the smallest of the litter passed away on March 29, leaving four cubs behind.
The orphaned cheetah will join the group once the cubs are strong enough. Photos show the new arrival curled up with a large stuffed toy while the four zoo cubs rest together on a cozy rug.
Christina Gorsuch, curator of mammals at the Cincinnati Zoo, emphasized the importance of companionship for the young cheetah, explaining that interactions with the other cubs and Blakely, the zoo’s nursery dog, will provide plenty of attention and exercise.
The four cubs in the nursery are still receiving critical care, so their introduction to the orphaned cheetah may take up to two weeks.
Gorsuch also mentioned that initial meetings will be supervised to ensure a smooth transition because the orphaned cub is stronger and larger.
Linda Castaneda, Lead Trainer for the Cincinnati Zoo’s Cat Ambassador Program, expressed excitement about raising the next generation of cheetahs. “We’re not focused on speed records right now. We want them to grow strong and healthy,” she said.
Nursery and veterinary staff are working hard to help the cubs reach the important one-month milestone, marking a key point in their development.
These cubs will eventually join the zoo’s ambassador program, which has been educating the public about endangered cheetahs since 1980.
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Cat Ambassador Program brings African cheetahs to schools and events across the U.S., Canada, and Central America to raise awareness about endangered species.
The program also sends educators to Namibia for conservation field studies, supporting global efforts to protect the species. Since 1990, the zoo’s Angel Fund has contributed over $1 million to help save cheetahs in the wild.
Cheetahs are critically endangered, with their population plummeting from around 100,000 in 1900 to just 9,000-12,000 today.
Programs like the Cincinnati Zoo aim to help prevent the extinction of the world’s fastest land animal.
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