On 4th April 2023, as part of a breeding recommendation, we welcomed the arrival of Anika, our female cheetah, from Vienna Zoo in Austria.
Cheetahs are very solitary animals out in the wild so a female would usually be on her own until she comes into season and wants to mate. However, with the continued mix of our male cheetah, Abasi, and female cheetah Anika, we do hope for a successful mating. We have seen lots of positive interactions between the pair in their home at Edge of Africa.
Anika has been showing her playful side by rolling in the grass and pouncing on our male cheetah, Abasi. Then sprinting around the habitat and climbing up her favourite tree! Anika is still relatively young at 4.5 years old and on the 22nd of June, she will be celebrating her 5th birthday!
Both Abasi and Anika’s behaviour is fantastic to see, and we remain hopeful for cubs in the future, which will greatly contribute to the vital conservation of this incredible species.
Our breeding programmes are crucial in supporting vulnerable species like our cheetah. You can help to play a role in the support of their conservation by visiting the zoo, or why not give the gift of an adoption of our cheetah as the perfect present for Valentine’s Day! Alternatively, you could check out our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide on our website and find more gift options here.
