Cheetah mother adopts orphaned cub at Cincinnati Zoo

There were heartwarming scenes at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's off-site breeding facility as a cheetah mother, Etosha, who recently gave birth to two cubs, adopted an orphan cub from Oregon.

The male cub arrived on Monday night and joined Etosha's litter, ensuring he receives the necessary stimulation for lactation.

Tom Tenhundfeld, head keeper of the Cincinnati Zoo's Cheetah Breeding Center, explained the coordination involved in this process.

"We work with other cheetah breeding centers to time litters so that cross-fostering can occur when needed, with cubs being close in age," he said. "We have successfully introduced cubs before, including the most genetically valuable cub in North America, and this introduction is going well too."

Upon arrival, the foster cub was placed in an incubator overnight to stabilize before joining Etosha and her cubs in the nest box on Tuesday. Keepers have observed excellent maternal behavior from Etosha, who is nursing and attentive to all three cubs.

"It's a good thing cheetahs can't count!" Tenhundfeld joked. "Etosha is caring for all three cubs as if they were her own."

In gratitude for providing transportation, Lighthawk Conservation Flying has been given the honour of naming the foster cub. The zoo will share updates, including the cubs' names, on its social media channels.