Four 10-week-old Cheetah cubs

'Tumai' sits with her four ten week old cheetah cubs as they are introduced to the outdoors under her watchful eye at the National Zoo in Washington Friday, Feb. 4, 2005. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
'Tumai' emerges from her indoor habitat with her four cheetah cubs as they are introduced to the outdoors under her watchful eye at the National Zoo in Washington Friday, Feb. 4, 2005. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Two of four ten-week-old cheetah cubs play as they are introduced to the outdoors under the watchful eye of their mother at the National Zoo in Washington Friday, Feb. 4, 2005. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A 10-week-old cheetah cub playfully attacks his mother Tumai's head, as its was shown for the first time at Washington National Zoo February 4, 2005. Two male and two females are the first litter of cheetahs born at the National Zoo during its 115 year history and will go on public exhibit February 5. REUTERS/Jason Reed
10-week-old cheetah cubs gather with their mother Tumai, as they were shown for the first time at Washington National Zoo February 4, 2005. Two male and two females are the first litter of cheetahs born at the National Zoo during its 115 year history and will go on public exhibit February 5. REUTERS/Jason Reed
A 10-week-old cheetah cub attempts to climbs a tree among snow as it is shown for the first time at Washington National Zoo February 4, 2005. Two male and two females are the first litter of cheetahs born at the National Zoo during its 115 year history and will go on public exhibit February 5. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Three 10-week-old cheetah cub gather with their mother Tumai, as they were shown for the first time at Washington National Zoo February 4, 2005. Two male and two females are the first litter of cheetahs born at the National Zoo during its 115-year history and will go on public exhibit February 5. REUTERS/Jason Reed
A ten-week-old cheetah cub plays with its mother 'Tumai' during the introduction to the outdoors of her four cubs at the National Zoo in Washington Friday, Feb. 4, 2005. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A 10-week-old cheetah cub shelters under its mother Tumai, as a new litter of four were shown for the first time at Washington National Zoo, February 4, 2005. Two male and two females are the first litter of cheetahs born at the National Zoo during its 115 year history and will go on public exhibit February 5. REUTERS/Jason Reed
A 10-week-old cheetah cub plays with the tail of its mother Tumai, as a new litter of four new cubs were shown for the first time at Washington National Zoo February 4, 2005. The two male and two females are the first litter of cheetahs born at the National Zoo during its 115 year history and will go on public exhibit February 5. REUTERS/Jason Reed
A ten-week-old cheetah cub playfully bites it's mother 'Tumai' as her four cubs are introduced to the outdoors under her watchful eye at the National Zoo in Washington Friday, Feb. 4, 2005. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Two of the four 10-week-old cheetah cubs are introduced to the outdoors under the watchful eye of their mother 'Tumai' at the National Zoo in Washington Friday, Feb. 4, 2005. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A 10-week-old cheetah cub bites at the tail of its mother Tumai, as four new cubs were shown for the first time at Washington National Zoo February 4, 2005. The two male and two females are the first litter of cheetahs born at the National Zoo during its 115 year history and will go on public exhibit February 5. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Washington Zoo Unveils First Cheetah Cubs

By Sandra Maler

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington's National Zoo, beset by a series of unusual animal deaths and charges of mismanagement, introduced its first litter of endangered cheetah cubs on Friday with fanfare befitting some rare good news.


"This is the first litter at the National Zoo. It's very difficult to breed cheetahs so there are very few litters," said Jo Gayle Howard, a reproductive scientist at the nation's flagship zoo. "This is why this is such a big deal."


A phalanx of photographers and journalists jostled for the best view as the 10-week-old cubs -- two males and two females -- bounded outside with their mother, Tumai, for their first public appearance.


The fluffy cubs romped around in something they would not likely have experienced in their native Africa: snow.


The cubs were born on Nov. 23 and are now the size of house cats, weighing about 10 pounds. They will reach their adult weight of 100 pounds when they are about a year old and may then go to other zoos in North America to take part in a breeding conservation program.


The birth of the cheetahs, which were conceived naturally, was a godsend for the 115-year-old zoo as it tries to move beyond the high-profile criticism that led to an investigation and the resignation of its director last February.


The National Zoo, part of the Smithsonian Institution (news - web sites), came under intense scrutiny after a string of deaths, which included two red pandas killed by rat poison, a zebra that starved and an elephant that was put down because of tuberculosis.


The deaths were blamed on poor handling and bad management.


Zoo officials were pleased that all four cubs survived and are thriving, chirping happily to their mother.


Cheetahs, the fastest animals on earth with a speed of up to 60 mph, were once found in Asia, the Middle East and Africa but they are now mostly extinct in the wild except in Africa, where there are only some 12,000 to 15,000 left.


There are about 262 in captivity in North America and some 1,200 worldwide, and the zoo prides its scientific program for the feat.


The cubs are the first litter by Tumai, a large 4-year-old female cheetah on indefinite loan from the Phoenix zoo. The cubs' father, however, 12-year-old Amadi, died of kidney disease shortly after the cubs' birth.


The cubs will be named in a public competition on the zoo's Web site. But their personalities already have emerged.


"One girl is very mischievous, while the other is very assertive," said Craig Saffoe, a cheetah keeper at the zoo for 11 years. "One of the males loves to climb trees and his brother is very relaxed."

 
BACK