Five new cheetah cubs joined the National Zoo family this week. The litter was born on October 5 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia.
If you’re curious about the cubs, the Cheetah Cam is back in action. The den live stream is a round-the-clock look at first-time mom Zura with her litter. Like her babies, Zura is one of five and was born at the same research facility in 2021. In fact, Front Royal is basically the family seat: Zura’s mother and grandmother also live at the conservation center.
According to the zoo, whether or not the cubs end up in DC “remains to be seen.” As members of the breeding program, they may remain in Front Royal to produce more spotted progeny, or they’ll venture to Washington. Either way, that decision will remain open-ended until after their second birthdays.
Daniella Byck joined Washingtonian in 2022. She was previously with Outside Magazine and lives in Takoma.
