Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Cheeky cubs given clean bill of health

Yesterday, our four adorable cheetah cubs had their very first visit with the vet!

During their check-up, the cubs were microchipped, received their first round of vaccinations and were given full-body examinations to determine their sex and general health.

We’re thrilled to announce the litter consists of three females and one male, with each cheetah cub being in perfect health!

The feisty felines are now eight weeks old and absolutely thriving under doting mum Kesho, weighing around three to four kilograms each – the perfect size for cubs their age.

Cheetah cub health check

Monarto Zoo carnivore keeper Jaimee Button says the little cubs, born on May 21, are already a confident bunch.

“The cubs are starting to venture out of their private den every now and then with mum,” Jaimee says.

“They are quite playful and adventurous, so they’re really enjoying exploring their new surroundings with Kesho as a guide.”

The cubs will continue to bond in a private den, but will be ready for their public debut in the near future.

Classified as vulnerable to extinction in the wild, these cubs mark an important contribution to the global breeding program working to secure the future of the species.

Sadly, cheetah numbers in eastern and south-western Africa are scarily low, with only 6,700 estimated to be left in the wild.

“These little ones are the second litter born to Kesho in two years and, like their brothers and sisters, they’ll play an important role in helping to educate people on the plight of their wild cousins,” Jaimee says.

“These cubs were sired by Saadani, a different male to Kesho’s last litter, which is also hugely beneficial to the global cheetah population.”

Five-year-old Kesho was born at Monarto Zoo in 2012 as part of Zoos SA’s cheetah breeding program, while six-year-old Saadani was born in the Netherlands and arrived in South Australia in 2014.

About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction.

Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging.

We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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