Meet the CheetahsThe three cheetah cubs and their mother made their public debut at River's Edge on Wednesday, April 25. The youngsters are discovering the sky, wind, and grass in their new territory, playing with each other and sticking close to mom. The cubs' public appearance schedule may vary, and they may not be on view all day, every day. The two females, Zuri and Makini, and one male, Kgosi, were born November 10, 2006. Their mother, Lucia, has been raising the babies in her maternity den and outdoors at the Zoo's cheetah breeding center behind-the-scenes for the last few months. At birth the cubs each weighed about two pounds. Five months later they range from 30-35 pounds. One male of the original litter of four died in December. First Timers - All Around!Lucia, a three-year-old, and father Shanto, a five year old, are both first time parents. Even though Lucia was not an experienced mother, she has been very caring and protective of her cubs since their birth. We are excited that this young cheetah mother is doing a terrific job of rearing the youngsters. And this is the first litter of cheetah cubs to be born at the Zoo since 1992! An Important MilestoneThe cheetah is endangered throughout Africa. In the last century, the cheetah population has declined from 100,000 to fewer than 12,000 individuals, and the species has become extinct in at least 13 countries. The pairing of Lucia and Shanto at St. Louis was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for cheetahs. The fact that this pair is not closely related will be vitally important to genetic diversity of cheetahs in the future. The Saint Louis Zoo is also supporting the Serengeti Wildlife Research Institute and the Tanzania Carnivore Project based at Arusha, Tanzania, through its WildCare Institute. Activities include the Cheetah Watch Campaign, which aims to monitor cheetahs across Tanzania using individual identification through photographs and the longest study site for cheetah in Africa on the Serengeti.
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