In a groundbreaking move for cheetah conservation, Wildlife Safari in Winston, Ore., has announced the successful integration of a rare cheetah cub into a new family. This action not only exemplifies the dedication of Wildlife Safari but also showcases the importance of cross-institution cooperation to preserve endangered species.
On 4 August, one of the Wildlife Safari’s female cheetahs, Lesedi, welcomed four healthy cubs into the world under the care of experienced cheetah staff. Lesedi’s genetic significance to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ North American cheetah population made these births particularly significant. For two years, the dedicated team has worked tirelessly to ensure her successful pregnancy, making her offspring an invaluable genetic asset to the cheetah species.
Despite Lesedi being a first-time mother, she has provided her four cubs—three males and one female—with constant care and attention.
When the cubs were nearly five weeks old, an urgent call came in from Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia, a breeding center for the North American cheetah population. The Richmond Zoo had a single cheetah cub, just nine days old, that could no longer stay with its mother. Cheetahs are solitary animals but do not raise single cubs as their milk production decreases with only one cub nursing. This young cub also held immense genetic value for the cheetah population.
Recognizing Wildlife Safari’s expertise in cheetah care and their successful history of fostering single cubs into litters with other mothers, Metro Richmond Zoo reached out to Wildlife Safari with an urgent request for the facility to introduce the Richmond cub to Lesedi and her cubs. Without hesitation, Wildlife Safari agreed.
Collaborating closely, the two zoos coordinated travel arrangements for the approximately two-and-a-half-week-old Richmond cub, who had been bottle-fed for 12 days and was significantly smaller than Lesedi’s cubs. The Wildlife Safari cheetah team closely monitored Lesedi’s behavior and believed in her capacity to help in this unique situation. The integration was executed seamlessly, with Lesedi immediately accepting the new cub into her family without hesitation.
For five days, the staff supplemented the new cub’s diet with bottle feeding, a practice they had never undertaken before. During Lesedi’s mealtime, the Safari team provided bottle feeding, monitored the cub’s weight, and returned him to his newfound family. By the sixth day, the cub had entirely transitioned to nursing from his adoptive mother, and his growth and well-being flourished.
Although the Richmond cub required some time to adjust to nursing from his new mother, this remarkable experience presented valuable learning opportunities, setting a noteworthy precedent for future conservation efforts.
Photos Credit: © Wildlife Safari
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