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CUMBERLAND, OH – The Wilds is celebrating the birth of three cheetah cubs born in mid-June to mother, Kuki, and father, Glenn. The litter, which includes two males and one female, marks the 12th cheetah litter born in The Wilds' history and another milestone in the conservation facility's collaborative cheetah breeding program.

Over the past several weeks, the cubs have continued to grow, become more active, and reach important developmental milestones. They have recently begun exploring outside the den where they were born as they discover their surroundings under Kuki's attentive care. During their first veterinary examinations, the cubs also received their initial vaccinations, and all three were found to be healthy and developing well.

Kuki, a 4-year-old cheetah, arrived at The Wilds in August 2024 from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) following a breeding recommendation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP). Glenn, a 9-year-old cheetah born at Dickerson Park Zoo, arrived at The Wilds in May 2023. Since welcoming the cubs, Kuki has proven to be an attentive and caring mother.

"Seeing Kuki successfully raise her first litter and watching the cubs reach these important early milestones has been incredibly rewarding," said Dr. Joe Greathouse, Vice President of The Wilds. "I'm grateful for the outstanding care and dedication our animal care team has provided throughout every step of this process. Births like these reflect the strength of collaborative conservation efforts and the important role accredited conservation organizations play in helping protect the future of cheetahs."

The Wilds is one of 10 dedicated breeding facilities participating in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Cheetah Breeding Center Coalition. Working in partnership with the AZA Species Survival Plan®, the Coalition helps ensure cheetahs with the highest priority for breeding have the best opportunity to produce cubs, supporting a healthy, sustainable population in professional care.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable due to threats including habitat loss, declining prey populations, and the challenges of living alongside people across much of their remaining habitat. Today, fewer than 7,100 adult and adolescent cheetahs are estimated to remain in the wild, with populations now limited to approximately just 9% of their historic range. Collaborative conservation breeding programs like the one at The Wilds play an important role in helping sustain a healthy population in professional care while supporting broader efforts to conserve cheetahs in their native range.

Guests may have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the cubs during select behind-the-scenes specialty tours in the coming weeks, depending on Kuki's comfort level with introducing them to visitors. As the cubs continue to grow and reach new developmental milestones, additional viewing opportunities may become available.

The Wilds is open year round, with a full line of tour options running from May through October and specialty tours available from November through April. For more information about tours, conservation initiatives, events, and educational opportunities, please visit TheWilds.org and follow The Wilds’ social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.