Zoo’s 4 New Baby Cheetahs
Will Be Spotted For First Time
“Quebec’s
cheetah population continues to grow following 4 births at Parc Safari in
Hemmingford…
The new
additions, females Imani & Ilanga & males Bemba & Malik, joined the
13 felines already housed in the park’s Cheetah Research &
Reproduction Centre…They were named in honour of the animal’s African heritage.
The
Quebec zoo took in 8 animals from South Africa in 2013…Since then, the cheetah
centre’s population has more than doubled through a combination of births &
animal transfers between centres across North America.
The 2
cubs, Mosi & Jelanie, joined the zoo’s cheetah coalition a year earlier in
May 2017 as the first born in the province, followed by another litter of 2 in
July in the same year.
While
the first birth at the centre required human intervention…Imani, Ilanga, Bemba,
& Malik’s births were completely natural- something zoo staff are feeling
especially proud about.
With a
dwindling worldwide population year after year, each new litter of cheetahs is
‘very, very important’.
…’It’s
very important to keep a healthy population in captivity, so maybe one day
we’ll be able to reintroduce (cheetahs) into the wild.’
…it’s
challenging to breed cheetahs, partially due to a lack of genetic diversity in
the species, low fertility rates in males, & the invasive nature of
artificial insemination, which requires surgery. Of more than 30 North American
centres involved in the Species Survival Program…only16 have been successful in
breeding the animals.
…once
the cubs have matured, after a year to 18 months, they’ll probably be
transferred to other centres where a new bloodline is needed.”
Kelsey
Litwin
The
Gazette, Montreal
July
13/2018
Cute Critter Pic
Weekly Chuckle
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