Bingwa The Cheetah Births Record-Breaking Litter Of Cubs
Historically, cheetahs ranged throughout Asia and Africa, but they've since gone extinct in 13 countries, with only 10k remaining in Africa, and less than 100 remaining in Iran.
A four-year-old cheetah named Bingwa is making history after giving birth to the biggest litter of cubs ever born in a zoo. The achievement is particularly important in light of the entire cheetah population currently being on the brink of extinction.
Bingwa, whose name means ‘champion’ in Swahili, went above and beyond all expectations when she gave birth to a litter of 8 healthy cubs. This is double the average litter size, which is reported to be 3-4.
Bingwa is currently on loan to the Saint Louis Zoo from the Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. In 2017, she was mated with a 9-year-old male cheetah named Jason from the White Oak Conservation in Yulee Florida, and on November 26th, 2017, she gave birth to the 8 beautiful cubs. Out of all 430 litters documented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, this is reportedly the first time a cheetah has given birth (and raised) a litter of this size.
Because the first few months of life are critical to a cub’s survival, Bingwa and her babies will be staying at the Saint Louis Zoo River’s Edge Cheetah Breeding Center for several months, where their health will be closely monitored. In total, there are 3 male cubs and 5 females.
In a statement, the zoo says, “[Bingwa] continues to be an exemplary mother… She has quickly become adept at caring for her very large litter of cubs— grooming, nursing, and caring for them attentively.”
As mentioned, Bingwa’s accomplishment is made ever the more meaningful in the context of the cheetahs’ impending extinction. Historically, these animals ranged throughout Asia and Africa; however, they’ve since gone extinct in 13 countries, with only 10k remaining in Africa, and less than 100 remaining in Iran.
The Cheetah Breeding Centre at the Saint Louis Zoo works with partnering organizations in Tanzania and Namibia to coordinate cheetah conservation. They implement educational initiatives and conduct research geared towards saving the ever declining cheetah population. According to PEOPLE, more than 50 cubs have been born at the Saint Louis Zoo Cheetah Breeding Centre since 1974.
“We’ve brought together cheetahs from great distances to continue this important breeding program,” Steve Bircher, curator of mammals/carnivores at the Saint Louis Zoo, said in a zoo press release. “These handsome cats add genetic diversity to the North American Cheetah SSP population.”
