The Zoo’s oldest breeding female, Malika, went into labour and gave birth to Mtoto (meaning little child in Swahili) on August 5. Zoo vets and keepers closely monitored the situation and after ongoing observations, made the difficult decision to remove and hand-raise Mtoto the following day due to concerns for his health. Further monitoring of Malika showed that she was still in some discomfort. On August 7 Zoo veterinarians decided to conduct an emergency caesarean and a second cub, Ushindi meaning triumphant in Swahili, was born.

Keepers have had to take on the role of mother, providing round-the-clock feeding and care since they were born to ensure they have the best chance at life.

Cheetah are notoriously hard to breed as they will only mate with physically capable and socially compatible partners. The genetics of the two cubs are very important for Cheetah as a species, which are classed as Critically Endangered, with an estimated population of less than 10,000 remaining in the world today.

Visitors to the zoo will be able to see the Cheetah cubs in a purpose-built nursery inside the Zoo Friends building for a short period of time each day from 11 October 2008 for approximately four weeks.

The Trib has a family pass for Taronga Western Plains Zoo valued at $98.50 to give away to a lucky reader. To enter please write your name, address and day time phone number on the back of an envelope, plus the name of the competition you are entering. Put a Trib masthead (top section of front page) in the envelope, and send it to Yass Tribune, P.O. Box 8, Yass 2582 or drop it into the Trib offices in Lead Street.

Get your entries in by noon on Friday October 17 for the draw at 2pm that day.

LTPM/07/20309