#CheetahCubdate 1: The First Squeak Peek

Keeper Becky stands outside on a foggy day holding a cheetah cub. Becky is wearing a dark grey t-shirt, teal N95 mask and light blue latex gloves. She and cub are looking at the camera. The 10-day-old cub in her hands has his mouth open.
Cheetah keepers have confirmed that Amani gave birth to two male cubs! Carnivore keeper Becky Merritt holds one of the cubs here. This cub has lighter fur than the other.
Keeper Amber stands outside on a foggy day holding a 10-day-old male cheetah cub. Amber is wearing a royal blue T-shirt, a light blue N95 mask and light blue latex gloves. She's looking at the cub. The cub has it's mouth open.
Carnivore keeper Amber Dedrick holds the other male cub, whose fur is darker than his brother’s.
Keeper Becky stands outside on a foggy day holding a cheetah cub. Becky is wearing a dark grey t-shirt, teal N95 mask and light blue latex gloves. She and cub are looking at the camera. The 10-day-old cub in her hands has his mouth open.
Keeper Amber stands outside on a foggy day holding a 10-day-old male cheetah cub. Amber is wearing a royal blue T-shirt, a light blue N95 mask and light blue latex gloves. She's looking at the cub. The cub has it's mouth open.

On Oct. 3, our 4-year-old cheetah, Amani, gave birth to her first litter of cubs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Front Royal, Virginia, campus. For the past week, cheetah fans and keepers have watched the two newborns and their mother snuggle and bond on the Cheetah Cub Cam. Keepers are happy to report that this new family is doing great and that the cubs are both boys!

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.
On Saturday, Oct. 8, keepers entered Amani’s yard and saw the cubs in person for the first time. While they did not handle the cubs at this encounter, they snapped this photo!

Amani has been a wonderful first-time mother. She’s eating her diet and nursing the cubs regularly. Everyone is making great weight gains. She spends every night with her newborns, which is important since the cubs cannot regulate their own body temperatures yet and cool, autumnal weather is here. During the day, Amani periodically leaves the cubs to patrol her yard or eat, which is normal behavior.

On Monday, Oct. 10 and Thursday, Oct. 13 Amani voluntarily left the cubs long enough for keepers to weigh them! At the more recent weigh in, each tipped the scales at about 2.5 pounds (1.09 kilograms and 1.14 kilograms), which are excellent weights for 10-day-old cheetahs.

A 1-week-old cheetah cub is held by a keeper wearing light blue gloves. The cub appears to be facing the keeper (who is not in the frame, other than their hands) and has it's mouth parted. This photo was taken outside, on a blue-sky day.
In addition to weighing the cubs, keepers determined both cubs were boys and shaved this cub’s left hip to help identify him from his brother. However, since the cubs have different shades of fur, keepers may not need to continue using a shave mark to tell them apart.

Keepers also are monitoring the cubs’ activity. So far, these two have proven to be quite feisty! Their eyes are now fully open, but they are still learning to assess their surroundings. When they experience something new—such as when keepers peaked into their den for the first time—the cubs tend to use all their senses to gain information. At times, they try to hiss and “act tough” pending the new experience.

The cubs are just starting to get their feet under them! In the coming weeks, they’ll become more confident and mobile. Tune in to the Cheetah Cub Cam to see their adorable tumbles and watch them explore!

A 1-week-old cheetah cub is held by a keeper wearing light blue gloves. The cub appears to be facing the keeper (who is not in the frame, other than their hands) and has it's tongue sticking out. This photo was taken outside, on a blue-sky day.
The cubs’ eyes are fully open, and they are just starting to gain mobility.

Keepers have noticed some quiet purring when Amani grooms the cubs. If you watch the Cam with the sound on, you may be able to hear it! Also be sure to take a good look at each cub. One has very light-colored fur and the other has very dark fur.

Stay tuned for more purrfect #CheetahCubdates in the coming weeks.