Computer Dating for Cheetahs Ends in Success at Colchester Zoo

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Computer software that checks an animal’s genetic history to find the best potential mate for it has resulted in the successful birth of a litter of Cheetah cubs at Colchester Zoo!

Male cheetah, Jack was brought to Colchester Zoo to pair with resident female Uria on a recommendation from the breeding programme co-ordinator known as the stud book keeper in March 2011 and this has resulted in the birth of three healthy cheetah cubs!

Born at the start of July 2011 the three cubs are all doing well under the watchful eye of their mother and keepers, and have now been sexed as two females and one male. Their keepers have been keeping a close eye on the new arrivals with weighing sessions to ensure that the cubs continue to gain weight to ensure good health and wellbeing. The cubs are unlikely to be seen over the summer period as they will remain within the den whilst they develop under the close care of Uria, their mother.

Sarah Forstyth, curator at Colchester Zoo said, “This is the pairing’s first successful litter of cubs, and we hope that they will continue to breed successfully in the future to help support the captive population of this species. Uria did previously have a litter of three cubs in October 2006, all of which have since transferred out of the collection as part of the EEP breeding programme for the species”.

Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals and catch their prey in high speed chases of up to 60 miles per hour. In the wild they are found in Africa and in small areas of the Middle East but their populations have decreased by as much as 30% in the last 18 years. Sadly, cheetahs are now critically endangered in Iran and North West Africa and are thought to be extinct in Libya. This makes European breeding programmes important for maintaining the population of captive cheetahs and for providing essential education and research.




EssexTouristGuide.com 25th August 2011

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