Cheetah
Our cheetahs arrived from the St. Louis Zoo, where Bingwa, meaning "champion" in Swahili, made history by giving birth to a record-breaking eight cubs! Now, Bingwa and two of her daughters call our zoo home.
In the wild, cheetah litters usually consist of three to four cubs, with the cubs leaving their mother around 18 months old. Female cheetahs are typically solitary, while males form small groups called "coalitions". But here at the zoo, our female cheetahs are a close-knit family! You’ll often find them lounging together in their empty baby pool.
Our cheetahs each have unique tails to help tell them apart. Bingwa has a black-tipped tail with white rings, while Moja (which means "one") has a white-tipped tail, and Nne (meaning "four") sports a black-tipped tail without rings.
Sadly, cheetah populations are declining in the wild due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the illegal wildlife trade. As a result, cheetahs are classified as vulnerable to extinction. At the zoo, we’re proud to be part of the effort to protect these incredible animals.
Come visit Bingwa and her daughters to see their graceful speed and unique personalities up close!