A wildlife park in Wiltshire is thrilled to announce the birth of four rare cheetah cubs as part of a global breeding program to preserve this endangered species.
Born in August, these cubs are about to take their first steps into the world and represent one of the largest successful cheetah litters reared in the UK.
The cubs’ parents, Wilma and Carl, originated from a captive breeding population in Pretoria, South Africa, and are genetically distinct from most cheetahs in Europe.
As the cheetah is classified as a “vulnerable” species, the arrival of these two males and two females provides hope for the future of these magnificent big cats.
In the wild, only one in three cubs typically survive to adulthood. However, the cubs are flourishing at Longleat with their mother’s care.
This litter brings Wilma and Carl’s total to seven cubs, following the births of Winston and Poppy in 2016 and Xena last year. Unfortunately, Wilma rejected Xena and had to be hand-reared by staff.
Amy Waller, head carnivore keeper at Longleat, expressed her delight: “We’re thrilled with how well Wilma and the cubs are doing. Last year, we had to intervene when Wilma abandoned Xena, so we were understandably concerned this time, especially with four cubs. However, she has proven to be an excellent parent, and all the cubs are gaining weight and beginning to explore their environment.”
Once the cubs are ready, plans are to reintroduce their older sister, Xena, back into the group.
Meanwhile, Poppy and Winston have been relocated to other wildlife collections as part of the ongoing breeding initiative.
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds up to 71 miles per hour, and can cover four strides in just one second, with each stride measuring up to 26 feet.
In the wild, many cubs face high mortality rates in their first months, often falling prey to predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies cheetahs as “vulnerable,” highlighting their risk of becoming endangered unless their survival and reproduction threats are addressed.
The global cheetah population is currently estimated at around 7,100 individuals in the wild, reflecting a significant decline throughout the 20th century due to habitat loss, poaching, the illegal pet trade, and conflicts with humans.
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