2 Cheetah Cubs Born At Smithsonian's National Zoo

FRONT ROYAL, VA — The Smithsonian’s National Zoo recently welcomed two cheetah cubs to the zoo's pack, born Oct. 3 at the zoo's Conservation Biology Institute in northern Virginia.

According to a news release from the zoo, the cubs were born to 4-year-old cheetah and first-time mom Amani and fathered by 7-year-old Asante. Staff said the cubs are "strong, active, vocalizing and nursing well."

"Animal care staff are closely monitoring Amani and her cubs’ behaviors via the Cheetah Cub Cam on the Zoo’s website," zoo officials said in a statement. "Virtual visitors can also observe Amani and her cubs on this temporary platform until the cubs leave the dens."

According to officials, it will be "some time" before the sexes of the cubs are known. For now, keepers are keeping their distance to allow Amani to bond with and care for her cubs without interference.

The cubs are a result of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's participation in the Cheetah Breeding Center Coalition. The coalition is a group of 10 cheetah breeding centers across the United States that "aim to create and maintain a sustainable North American cheetah population under human care," according to zoo officials.

Since 2007, 17 litters of cheetah cubs have been born at the Smithsonian's Front Royal campus.

Cheetahs mostly live in small, isolated populations in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the release. Due to human conflict and poaching, habitat, and prey loss, there are only an estimated 7,000 to 7,500 cheetahs left in the wild.