Fota Wildlife Park announces birth of two endangered Northern cheetah cubs
Olivia Kelleher
Fota Wildlife Park in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork has announced the birth of two endangered Northern cheetah cubs.
The male and female were born on November 24th, 2025, to mother Florence and father Nawab.
Florence is five years old and was born at Fota Wildlife Park. Nawab is six and was transferred to Fota from Wadi Al Safa Wildlife Centre in Dubai as part of a European Endangered Breeding Programme (EEP).
The Northern cheetah is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with wild populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal wildlife trade. It is estimated that approximately 600 individuals remain in the wild.
The Northern cheetah’s natural habitat is the savannahs and grasslands of North and East Africa.
Senior ranger John Leahy said that they are delighted to announce the birth of endangered cubs.
“They are an important example of the international collaboration between zoological institutions, as well as the vital conservation work and high standards of animal care at Fota Wildlife Park in helping to protect endangered species.
"Florence is a first-time mother, and she appears to be adapting extremely well to her new role. In the wild, the mothers are solely responsible for raising their cubs, and this natural situation is reflected here at Fota Wildlife Park.
"While we continue to monitor the animals very closely, we do so remotely, to avoid causing any stress to the mother or her newborns.
"Their den is fitted with cameras, so we can discreetly observe and assess mum and cubs continuously.
"The cubs are developing really well and have begun eating small amounts of meat shared by Florence, while still nursing from her.
"Visitors to the Park can already see the cubs running around their habitat daily, playfully interacting with one another and their mother, exploring their environment and growing bigger and stronger by the day.”
The cubs currently sport a distinctive ruffed grey coat with a black stripe running down the length of their backs.
This unique colouring is thought to be an example of Batesian mimicry, a survival strategy where harmless species evolve to imitate the warning signals of more dangerous ones.
Their appearance may mimic that of the honey badger, potentially deterring predators in the wild. As they mature, they will gradually grow out of this distinctive coat.
The cheetah is synonymous with Fota Wildlife Park as it is an internationally renowned breeding centre for the species, with over 240 births since 1984.
The Park, which features a cheetah on its logo, plays a crucial role in the conservation of the endangered Northern cheetah.
Fota Wildlife Park is inviting the public to help name the cubs through an online competition at www.fotawildlife.ie/blogs/news.
