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Latest Cheetah Cub News

Cheetah cubs Ziad and Enzi cautiously approach a large square green container filled with ice. Resting on top of the ice are a pair of bones for the cubs to eat.
Apr. 25, 2023
#CheetahCubdate 9: An Ice Bucket Challenge
The warm weather has brought the cubs new enrichment activities, including a tub filled with ice cubes! 
A photo of a male cheetah cub sitting in grass, looking toward the camera.
Mar. 09, 2023
#CheetahCubdate 8: Get to Know the Cubs by Name
As each of Amani's cub’s personality begins to shine through, it’s the perfect time to debut their names. Plus, the cubs have some new neighbors, who are familiar faces to our cheetah fans!
Cheetah Amani crouches over a metal tray with one of her 4-month-old cubs. Amani appears to be sniffing the side of the tray while the cub inspects a bloodsicle on the tray. Amani's other cub is to the right of the tray, eating a small piece of the treat
Feb. 07, 2023
#CheetahCubdate 7: How to Enrich and Train Cheetahs
Our 4-month-old cheetah cubs have had a busy couple of weeks! They played on new furniture in their yard, got a taste of a new treat, and had their last cub veterinary exam. Read on for a playful vide... read more
Cheetah mother Amani lays in the tall grass in her yard with her two male cubs. One cubs lays snuggled up next to her on the left and the other sits on the right. All three cheetahs look toward the camera.
Jan. 17, 2023
#CheetahCubdate 6: New Year, New Food and the First Snow
Amani and her 3-month-old cubs are entering the new year with new experiences and a clean bill of health. Read on for the full update from the keepers!
Two 9-week-old male cheetah cubs sit in their den on hay. The cub on the right appears to be hissing at the camera.
Dec. 14, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 5: A Jolly (Ball) Time
It’s been a jolly time for Amani and her two cubs over the last couple weeks! The family received some new enrichment and the cubs had their 9-week exam. Read on for the full Cheetah Cubdate from chee... read more
On the left, a unidentifiable keeper, wearing a dark grey T-shirt over a light grey long sleeves shirt, holds a 6-week-old male cheetah cub. On the right, an unidentifiable vet wearing blue scrubs and white latex gloves, holds a stethoscope up to the cub.
Nov. 28, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 4: Feast Your Eyes on These 7-week-old Cubs
‘Tis the season for tasty feasts — even for our cheetah cubs! Amani's 7-week-old cubs tried meat for the first time and had their first vet exam. Get the full scoop in this #CheetahCubdate.
The darker-furred cheetah cub (1 month old) lays in a plastic blue bin. He is looking up with his mouth open, showing a few small teeth coming in.
Nov. 09, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 3: Ready, Set, Play!
Amani’s two male cubs are one month old, ready to play and are back making appearances on the Cheetah Cub Cam! Read on to find out just how mobile these cubs are and don't miss two adorable videos of... read more
Two 3-week-old cheetah cubs cuddle next to each other next to some tall grasses in their yard. There is hay and grass laying over the dirt under them. One cub is laying parallel to the camera and the other is laying behind him, facing the camera.
Oct. 28, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 2: Spotted in the Tall Grass
Amani may have moved her cubs off cam, but keepers are pleased to report the family is doing great! Read on to find out what our cheetah family in Front Royal, Virginia, has been up to in this #Cheeta... read more
Two 5-day-old cheetah cubs lay in a den. The floor of the den is covered in den. The one cub is laying further back but has its mouth open toward its sibling and the camera. The other cub is facing the right, its mouth slightly open.
Oct. 14, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 1: The First Squeak Peek
Over the past week, cheetah fans and keepers have watched the two newborn cubs and their mother snuggle and bond on the Cheetah Cub Cam. Keepers are happy to report this new family is doing great and... read more
Momma cat with two itty bitty kitties in a straw-floored grotto
Oct. 06, 2022
Cheetah Cubs Are Born at Front Royal Campus, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Carnivore keepers in Front Royal, Virginia, welcomed a litter of two cheetah cubs. First-time mother, 4-year-old female Amani, birthed the cubs Oct. 3 around 9:17 p.m. and 11:05 p.m. ET. They appear t... read more
An infrared (black and white) image from a cheetah cub cam showing six cheetahs curled up and intertwined with each other in a small den
Aug. 18, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 19: A Warm and Fuzzy Farewell
After 10 months of 24/7 Cheetah Cub Cam, it's time to say goodbye to Rosalie and her five cubs.
three cheetahs surround a "chew toy" made of woven recycled firehose
Jul. 22, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 18: Cheetah Chew Toys
At 9 months old, Rosalie's cubs are teething!
six cheetahs stand over a food bowl
Jul. 07, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 17: The Breakfast Cubs
What does feeding time look like for five growing cheetah cubs and their mom? Watch the video to find out how fast Rosalie and her cubs can devour more than 10 pounds of meat.
A 6-month-old cheetah cub lays in the grass with four black Kong toys spread out in the grass in front of them.
Apr. 26, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 15: Playful Personalities
The 6-month-old cheetah cubs are growing well and are ready to play! Plus, their individual personalities are starting to shine through. Get the latest update on Rosalie's cubs from cheetah biologist,... read more
Female cheetah Rosalie lays on her side with her legs away from the camera but her head turned toward it. Her five cubs lay next to (behind) her. They are laying on grass, which is mostly light brown with some areas of green.
Feb. 23, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 14: The Cubs Have Names!
Say hello to our newly named cheetah cubs and don't miss an adorable video of Rosalie and the cubs purring and cleaning each other! Read on to find out what our cheetah family has been up to in this C... read more
Cheetah Rosalie walks through the snow with a cub trailing behind.
Jan. 25, 2022
#CheetahCubdate 13: Cubs in the Snow
The verdict is in on our 14-week-old cheetah cubs’ first snow experience! Plus, get the latest dish on Rosalie's cubs' newest enrichment and husbandry training experiences. Read on for a full cubdate... read more
A cheetah mom with five cubs tucked in next to her. The text reads "Wishing you a wild and wonderful new year!"
Dec. 22, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 12: Watch a Video of the Cubs’ Checkups
Rosalie's cubs got their 9-week-old checkup and received a clean bill of health!
Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji upside-down in an outdoor hammock made of wood and recycled fire-hose
Dec. 20, 2021
Watch: 10 Animal Videos That Topped Our List in 2021
We rounded up the animal antics and species conservation stories that made us laugh, smile and cheer in 2021. Take a look back at some of our favorite moments caught on video.
A 7-week-old cheetah cub is held by a keeper wearing a light gray sweatshirt and neon yellow work gloves. A vet stands to the right of the cub and is listening to the cub's breathing with a stethoscope.
Dec. 03, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 11: Decoding Cub Chatter and a Clean Bill of Health
Listen up! Rosalie's now 7-week-old cubs are feisty, playful and healthy. Keepers even captured a video of one cub up-close to the fence, chirping. Read on to learn to speak cheetah and get the latest... read more
a female veterinarian holds a stethoscope to a cheetah cub while an animal keeper holds the cub
Nov. 24, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 10: Coughs, Check-ups and Chowing Down
It’s been another busy week for Rosalie and her five cubs, from their first taste of meat to their first veterinary exam.
Black and white photo. Adult, female cheetah lays in a den with her five cubs nursing. The cubs are so large, you can't see all five, as they are piled on top of one another. The den has hay on the ground.
Nov. 19, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 9: Spotted on Cam, Bigger than Before
The cheetah cubs are back on the Cheetah Cub Cam! Check out this adorable video and tune into the Cheetah Cub Cam in the evenings for a chance to catch the cubs live.
Four almost-1 month old cubs huddle together inside a den enclosure. In the foreground are some clear plastic flaps, which were pulled aside to see the cubs. There's a fifth cub laying in the back of then. All five cubs are looking toward the camera.
Nov. 12, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 8: Little Home on the Grasses
Cheetah mom Rosalie and her five cubs continue to do well and live between the den without a webcam and the tall grasses in their yard.
Four cheetah cubs lay curled up next to each other in a blue plastic tub. A fifth cub sits up on top of one of its siblings, with its mouth open. The other cubs are all looking toward this fifth cub. There is hay coating the bottom of the tub.
Nov. 08, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 7: Weekend Adventures and Another New Den
On Saturday, Nov. 6, cheetah mom Rosalie moved her cubs out of the webcam dens and back to the tall grasses in her yard, creating her own natural den. Read on for the full account of the cubs' weekend... read more
Five cheetah cubs lay on hay inside a small building with white walls which act as a den. The left cub has its mouth open, showing a few teeth on top. Two other cubs also have their mouths open. The middle cub is laying down facing away from the camera.
Nov. 04, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 6: Smile with Your Teeth
Rosalie’s five 3-week-old cubs have us smiling! Over the weekend, keepers did a quick visual check on the cubs and noticed at least one had some teeth. Read on for the full update and watch a sweet mo... read more
Two images collaged together. Both pictures are of a cheetah cub held by a latex-gloved keeper. The left image is of a female cub and the right is of a male.
Oct. 29, 2021
#CheetahCubdate 5: 2 Pounds of Cuteness per Cub
It was a busy week for Rosalie and her five cubs, as they moved back inside an artificial den and are back on the Cheetah Cub Cam. Animal care staff were finally able weigh each cub!