Ireland

Four new Northern cheetah cubs born at Cork wildlife park

Public asked to submit names for the cubs

Mother cheetah, Gráinne, with three of her recently born cubs. Photograph: Darragh Kane
Mother cheetah, Gráinne, with three of her recently born cubs. Photograph: Darragh Kane
Ellen O’Donoghue
Wed Apr 26 2023 - 16:23

Four new Northern cheetah cubs have been born at Fota Wildlife Park, in Cork, and a public competition has been launched to name them.

Northern cheetahs are a sub species which is considered endangered by the International Union of Conservation of Nature. There are less than 700 Northern cheetahs left in the wild.

[ Fota Wildlife Park welcomes new Sumatran tiger ]

Members of the public can submit a name for the cubs via an online form on the park’s website and each entrant will be in with a chance to win one of four annual passes to Fota Wildlife Park.

Head ranger, Julien Fonteneau, said the new cubs, born to mother Gráinne and father Sam, are thriving.

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“It is lovely to see them develop and to watch them explore their leafy habitat on Cheetah Hill. The cheetahs enjoy being outside and have just started to join their mum during feeding where they love to pull and lick the food,” he said.

Fota Wildlife Park are asking the public for help in naming four Northern cheetah cubs who were born on February 26th. Photograph: Darragh Kane
Fota Wildlife Park are asking the public for help in naming four Northern cheetah cubs who were born on February 26th. Photograph: Darragh Kane

Over 240 cheetah cubs have been born through breeding programmes at Fota Wildlife Park since it opened 40 years ago.

Ellen O’Donoghue

Ellen O’Donoghue

Ellen O'Donoghue is an Irish Times journalist