Tiny endangered cheetah cubs cuddle up in Ohio zoo’s nursery. See them snuggle
Two baby cheetahs have been snuggling together in an Ohio zoo’s nursery as they prepare for a future in the public eye.
They’re currently being raised in the Cincinnati Zoo’s nursery, but will soon join an exhibit viewable to zoo-goers, the zoo said in a Dec. 4 news release.
In order to thrive in a zoo exhibit, Zola and Lulu need to get all of their necessary vaccinations and be weaned off of bottle feeding, the Cincinnati Zoo said. Both names are Swahili words, per the zoo. Zola means “tranquil” and Lulu means “pearl.”
For now, the two play and teeth with the multitude of toys in the zoo’s nursery and snuggle with each other for naps.
“Sometimes when they sleep, their little feet move as if they’re dreaming!” the zoo said.
The two cubs are also learning how to socialize with the staff that cares for them, according to the zoo. They’re learning to walk forward to them and move around the nursery.
The two are destined to be ambassador cheetahs and eventually become part of the Cincinnati Zoo’s “cheetah encounters,” according to the release.
“Life in the nursery is exciting; however, once they are weaned and have all the necessary vaccinations, they will head up to our cheetah encounter building where they will get acclimated to all the new sights and smells,” zoo officials said in the release.
Zoo officials expect the two cubs to be running throughout the nursery soon. As Lulu and Zola grow up, they’ll learn to run up to 70 miles per hour, according to the zoo.
The two cubs were born on Nov. 3, the zoo told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The cat species, known for their speed, is also endangered due to habitat loss and illegal pet trade, the zoo said.
The zoo did not say when the two cubs would be available for public view, but said their journey at the nursery will be documented on social media until then.