New Cheetahs at the Zoo Bring Hope to Captive Population
     by Terry DeRosa, Living Collections Manager

After 30 hours of travel from South Africa, "Sam" and "Olivia," our new cheetah pair, had finally landed in San Antonio and were on their way to the airport's cargo area. Zoo staff headed off in our van and my truck for the long awaited pick up. As we approached the loading area, we noticed two rather non-descript crates sitting on the dock. For most, they were just another shipment but, for us, they represented the culmination of a year's work. Taking great care not to startle the cheetahs, we carefully approached the crates, peered through the tiny openings and spotted their magnificent gold and ebony coats.

While the cheetahs were tired after their 30-hour journey, the person responsible for getting them here safe and sound assured me the cheetahs had taken food and water throughout the trip and looked quite good. The next step was to deliver the cheetahs to their new home, the San Antonio Zoo. I took my SUV hoping that one of the crates might fit and I would have the pleasure of driving one of the cheetahs to the Zoo. It was a tight fit so the cheetah crate was right behind my seat. Having a cheetah breathing down your neck might sound scary to some, but I found it quite exhilarating!

For over 25 years, zoos and other conservation organizations have been engaged in research relating to cheetah reproduction and the decline of the species. That research has shown that up to seventy percent of an average cheetah's sperm sample may be abnormal. Combine that with the fact that most cheetahs today are very similar genetically, and the challenge of maintaining the species becomes even more complex. Zoos are actively engaged in breeding programs, and most cheetahs exhibited in zoos are from these breeding programs. To allow for expansion of the captive zoo population's gene pool, occasionally animals are acquired from outside sources. Acquiring animals out of Africa for zoos today is no small feat. Along with a lengthy application, the requesting zoo must prove how this transaction benefits the cheetah population. After eleven months of what seemed like endless emails, permits and planning, the cheetahs had FINALLY arrived!

The Zoo's effort to get cheetahs from Africa started a year earlier when I attended an annual zoo conference and discovered that a pair of captive-bred cheetahs was available. Since this was extremely rare, I jumped right on it. Loss of our cheetahs to cancer meant the Zoo was looking for a new pair and we were quite excited to receive a young pair to breed and increase the genetic diversity of the captive population.

"Sam" and "Olivia" were captive bred in Africa at the DeWalt Cheetah Facility, which has a long history of rescuing and preserving cheetahs and other endangered animals in the wild. In 1997, I was fortunate to have led a group to South Africa, and our first stop was a visit with Ann Dyk at the DeWalt Cheetah Facility. The DeWalt Cheetah Facility is noted for breeding a number of endangered species but specializes in breeding cheetahs. The number of cheetahs at the facility immediately overwhelmed us. Since cheetahs are rarely seen even on safari, it was a real treat to see so many adults and youngsters together in one place. As luck would have it, we had the opportunity to tag along in the feed truck, which literally entered into the pens with the hungry cheetahs. We were cautiously instructed to remain seated and not to dangle any body parts over the edge of the truck, since the cheetahs get really excited at feeding time. It was impressive to observe the staff's knowledge of each individual animal and their dedication to seeing that each animal received its fair share of the meal. After our extraordinary drive surrounded by salivating cheetahs, we took a deep breath and toured the remaining areas of the facility. We also discussed the facility's mission and how they assisted cheetahs in the wild and in captivity. The consensus of our group was that, if we didn't see another animal on our safari in South Africa, it was worth the trip just to see the cheetahs at DeWalt. South Africa brought many more memorable experiences, but that's another story.

Prior to their arrival at the Zoo, the "family tree" of the two DeWalt cheetahs was submitted to the Cheetah Species Survival Plan (SSP) Coordinator for review. Luckily, both animals are unrelated to any animals currently in US zoos. This was of particular importance because cheetahs have been on the verge of extinction due to inbreeding throughout history. By acquiring these two animals, we now have the opportunity to increase the genetic diversity of the captive population insuring a stronger, more viable population for many years to come.

On your next visit to the Zoo, check out "Sam" and "Olivia" and see how they are acclimating to their new home. Don't be surprised if you see just one cheetah in the exhibit. Some evidence shows that keeping even unrelated young males and females together causes them to develop sibling bonds that might prevent breeding in the future. By keeping the male separated from the female, the Zoo hopes to follow through on a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan and produce cubs in the future. In the meantime, we continue our mission to help conserve these animals by providing critical support for field projects that help maintain their natural habitat and at the same time, work diligently to increase the numbers in captivity.