Four new baby cheetah cubs were born as part of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Fort Royal, Virginia.
The babies can be seen on a live Cheetah Cub Cam on the Zoo’s website.
First-time mom Amabala is 5 years old and gave birth on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.
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“Cheetahs can be challenging to breed, in part because female reproductive cycles can be sporadic and their behavior is often very difficult to interpret,” said a carnivore biologist at NZCBI Adrienne Crosier, who leads the cheetah Species Survival Plan (SSP). “It’s taken our team of keepers, veterinary staff and biologists thousands of man-hours to produce 20 litters. For that 20th litter to be Amabala’s is an exciting, full-circle moment for us.”
The cubs’ father, Flash, is an 8-year-old who has three other cubs. Male cheetahs do not help raise their cubs, according to NZCBI.
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Cheetahs are considered vulnerable, one step away from endangered, according to the Zoo.
The average lifespan of wild cheetahs is between eight and ten years. Cheetahs live 12 to 15 years while under the care of humans, according to the Zoo.
