The cheetah cub cam is offering a live look at five newborn cheetahs thriving under the care of their first-time mother, Zura, at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. The litter arrived on October 5 and, when not asleep in a warm pile of black-spotted coats, the cubs are already scrambling over their mother and nursing frequently, according to institute staff.
Adrienne Crosier, a cheetah biologist and curator of carnivores at the institute, said the energetic litter keeps Zura busy. With five cubs, someone is almost always nursing or needing grooming. At five years old, Zura has remained calm and attentive, rarely leaving the den. Staff noted she briefly stepped out to eat and drink for the first time since the birth, then returned to the cubs, which they described as normal behavior.
Born with eyes closed and ears folded, cheetah cubs rely completely on their mothers in the first days. Their eyes typically open between days four and seven, while their ears lift a short time later. For now, animal care staff are observing the family remotely to minimize disturbance, using the live video from inside the den. The online stream also lets the public watch the cheetahs develop, an opportunity that is notable because the Front Royal campus is closed to visitors.
Staff expect rapid growth in the coming weeks. While nursing, each cub should gain roughly 50 grams per day. After three to four weeks, the youngsters are likely to gather at the den entrance when Zura leaves for food or water and may try to follow her outside, Crosier said.
As the cubs progress, keepers will begin brief health checks. They will weigh individuals quickly, then return them to the den, and mark each with a small shaved patch to tell them apart. At around six weeks, the litter will receive a first veterinary exam and vaccinations, along with implanted transponders for identification.
Zura was born at the institute in 2021, joining a matriline that now spans four generations on site. The father, Flash, is nine years old and also housed at the institute. He has sired seven cubs previously, though male cheetahs do not participate in rearing.
Quick facts: Cheetahs are built for speed
Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals, reaching about 60 to 70 miles per hour and covering up to 23 feet in a single stride.
How to follow the cheetah cub cam
Cheetahs are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with populations reduced by more than 90 percent since 1900. Habitat fragmentation and long-standing low genetic diversity have compounded their challenges. The institute participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Cheetah Species Survival Plan, which coordinates breeding across ten U.S. facilities to bolster genetic diversity. Pairings are selected based on DNA, temperament and health, and may involve animals traveling significant distances for introductions.
Program coordinators consider Flash genetically valuable, so this litter could become important to the managed population. With these births, the institute has reached 90 cheetah cubs across 21 litters.
“Every litter is so important,” Crosier said, adding that each cub serves as an ambassador for the species and could contribute to future conservation efforts.