News & Events
The paw-fect welcome for adorable new additions
The National Zoo & Aquarium are delighted to announce the arrival of three Cheetah cubs from South Africa.
The National Zoo & Aquarium are delighted to announce the arrival of three Cheetah cubs from South Africa. The cubs arrived in the middle of the Covid-19 lockdown in the ACT and have been settling in for the last few weeks. The three brothers, Asani, Zambi and Viking entered a quarantine period upon arriving in Canberra prior to being moved to an on display exhibit. If you are trying to find the boys, Team Leader Leah Carnegie says they can “often be seen lying about under a tree in what we like to describe as a Cheetah ball!”. Celebrating their first birthday on the 29th of October, the boys have been making the most of the beautiful weather of late, running around and playing like all brothers do! Keepers describe the young cheetah as “young, energetic and are not only the fastest but the purriest of the cat kingdom!”
The brothers came to us from Cango Wildlife retreat, where in a continued effort to raise awareness and much needed funds for Cheetah conservation in the wild, they were introduced to the ambassador program. Asani, Zambi and Viking will form an important part of the Meet a Cheetah experiences at the National Zoo, with hands on encounters and walks to be added into their routines.
With less than 6,500 cheetahs left in the wild, the cheetah is Africa’s most endangered big cat which face significant threats to their ongoing survival. The National Zoo & Aquarium contributes heavily to a large number of breeding programs, including a regional breeding program for cheetahs, that can help save a number of animals from extinction. The National Zoo & Aquarium also donates to a number of local and overseas conservation initiatives and charities to assist in the continuation of species.
We are giving you the opportunity to go into the yard and experience a Meet-A-Cheetah encounter with our three new Cheetah Cubs!