Here's Why It's A Big Deal Every Time A Cheetah Has Cubs In A Zoo

When you think about it, the birth of any animal is a big deal, but when a cheetah in a zoo gives birth, it's a momentous occasion and reason to celebrate. Seeing a big cat as a cub is a heartwarming sight. Their small, innocent faces and fluffy mantles can draw a smile out of anyone, but the significance of these animals runs much deeper than that. Every successful cheetah birth in captivity is a critical step in the effort to keep this species from vanishing. In a world where wildlife faces growing threats, zoos have become sanctuaries and breeding grounds for hope for vulnerable animals like these big cats.

This past spring, the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia welcomed three male (Lagos, Bukavu, and Cairo) and three female (Matola, Kampala, and Lusaka) cubs. This latest litter brings the total number of cubs born at the zoo since 2013 to 167. With consideration to the dwindling number of cheetahs in the wild, this makes this zoo milestone especially meaningful.

More than 200 years ago, Africa and Asia were home to more than 100,000 cheetahs. Scientists estimate that number today to be around 8,000. "The cheetah inhabits only 9% of its historic range, making it Africa's most endangered big cat," the Metro Richmond Zoo told 12 on Your Side in an interview. With this in mind, each successful birth in captivity doesn't just bring joy. It gives the species a better chance at sticking around in the world.

Cheetahs have a fragile genetic makeup due to two events that left the species severely inbred. One occurred about 100,000 years ago, when cheetahs trekked out of North America and spread to Asia, Africa, and Europe. The second hit at the end of the last ice age — about 12,000 years ago. Today, their near‑identical DNA makes them vulnerable to disease, reproductive hiccups, and low cub survival rates in both wild and captive populations.

Zoos today address this by serving as modern "ark" institutions for genetic diversity. Through carefully planned breeding programs, they pair up cheetahs in ways that help keep their genes mixed and the species strong. For example, through a breeding program at Tanganyika Wildlife Park, 45 cheetah cubs were born between 2016 and 2023. The collaboration between institutions ensures that healthy genetic lines don't get lost.

However, zoos do more than just manage gene pools. They serve as platforms for curiosity and learning. Plus, people connect emotionally with baby animals. Watching cheetah cubs will inevitably prompt viewers to whip out their cameras or wonder what it's like owning a big cat as a pet. It also drives a crucial message home: without the active help of humans, cheetahs could disappear from the wild and from our shared future.

Interested in reading more about cheetahs or other endangered species? Check out why cheetahs at zoos sometimes have support dogs or two different endangered species that are making a comeback in the same national park.