Cheetah cubs to make public habitat debut at Saint Louis Zoo

Late last year, the Saint Louis Zoo made history when eight (eight!) cheetah cubs were born at its facilities.

It marked the first time in more than 430 litters documented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that a female cheetah had produced and reared on her own a litter of eight cubs at a zoo. (The average litter size is three to four cubs.)

The adorable baby cheetahs will make their public habitat debut this week, after remaining in a private maternity suite for several months.

This Friday, May 4 the eights cubs and their mother, Bingwa, will begin to have access to their public habitat in River’s Edge, although the zoo emphasizes that “there will be no set viewing schedule.” That means the cheetahs will explore the habitat at their own pace—in other words, it’s up to them whether they want to come out or stay behind the scenes. 

“Because the zoo is dedicated to caring for animals, providing them with the option of privacy is an important part of their quality care,” the zoo said in a statement.

The cubs are now five months old and weigh about 25 to 30 pounds. Take a peek at their adorableness below, and watch them frolic in the video above.

Photo by Jacquelyn McGarrahan, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Jacquelyn McGarrahan, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Jacquelyn McGarrahan, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Jacquelyn McGarrahan, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Roger Brandt, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Roger Brandt, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Roger Brandt, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Roger Brandt, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Roger Brandt, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Photo by Roger Brandt, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo