Scientists estimate that the cheetah population has declined to only approximately 7,500 individuals. This geographic separation has left the species genetically “bottlenecked,” creating the potential for inbreeding. Due to threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with livestock and game farmers, as well as unregulated tourism, cheetahs now inhabit just 10 percent of their historic range. After the age of 8 years, cheetahs’ ability to reproduce declines significantly, and because Izzy and Ophelia are 3 years old, they have a better chance to safely deliver healthy, full-term cubs.Īccording to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), cheetahs have a population classification of “Vulnerable” and a decreasing population trend in their native range of Africa. Izzy and her sister Ophelia’s bloodlines are already well represented in the genetic registry, so they were selected as surrogates. The cubs have been observed nursing, and the male currently weighs in at 480 grams and the female weighs 350 grams.Įggs (oocytes) were taken on November 19 from 6 1/2-year-old Kibibi and 9-year-old Bella, whose genes are considered to be valuable and important in maintaining a strong lineage of cheetahs in human care. The care team performed a well check on the cubs on Friday, February 21 and determined that Izzy gave birth to a male cub and a female cub.

Izzy, a first-time mom, continues to be providing great care to her cubs at this time. The cheetahs’ care team observed the births through a remote camera and continue to monitor Izzy and her cubs closely. While the cubs’ biological mother is Kibibi, the cubs were delivered on Wednesday, Februat 9:50 p.m. These efforts were also a part of a breeding recommendation from The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) and the Cheetah Sustainability Program (CSP), developed to manage a sustainable population of cheetahs in human care.

The births are the result of careful planning and innovative medical expertise through a partnership between the Columbus Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center-three leading institutions with a commitment to conservation. Isabelle, or 'Izzy,' has the distinction of being the surrogate mother to the world's first cheetah cubs - a male and a female - born using in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in February 2020.History has been made! In a groundbreaking scientific breakthrough, two cheetah cubs have been born through in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer into a surrogate mother at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.🐆🐆 At the end of 30 days, she will return to her home in the Heart of Africa. The cheetah, who is up to date on her vaccinations, will be placed in a 30-day quarantine to ensure that she does not show signs of illness, required by the Delaware County General Health District. This is Isabelle's first documented attack, Rapp said. Rapp described Isabelle as “an incredibly well-trained animal' who has been trained to cooperate with ultrasounds, X-rays, blood draws and other medical procedures in order to minimize the use of anesthesia. Zoo officials did not identify the zookeeper or the extent of their injuries, citing privacy laws. “Right now we’re just trying to iron out exactly what happened,” said Suzi Rapp, the zoo's vice president of animal programs.

Zoo officials are investigating the cause of the attack but believe it was the scent of the other animals on the keeper that triggered Isabelle's natural instinct to attack.

Columbus zoo cheetah