The Smithsonian's National Zoo confirmed that 5-year-old cheetah Amabala gave birth to four cubs on Oct. 17–18 while the facility was closed during the U.S. government shutdown. The sire, Flash (8), is considered genetically valuable, and the litter is NZCBI's 20th at its Front Royal campus. Keepers are taking a hands-off approach so the first-time mother can bond with her cubs, which the zoo says are active, vocal, and feeding well. The birth highlights the role of breeding programs in conserving cheetahs, a species listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.
Amabala the Cheetah Welcomes Four Healthy Cubs at Smithsonian's National Zoo During Government Shutdown
The Smithsonian's National Zoo confirmed that 5-year-old cheetah Amabala gave birth to four cubs on Oct. 17–18 while the facility was closed during the U.S. government shutdown. The sire, Flash (8), is considered genetically valuable, and the litter is NZCBI's 20th at its Front Royal campus. Keepers are taking a hands-off approach so the first-time mother can bond with her cubs, which the zoo says are active, vocal, and feeding well. The birth highlights the role of breeding programs in conserving cheetahs, a species listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.
07:46 AM, 11/18/2025Environment
Smithsonian's National Zoo Celebrates Four New Cheetah Cubs
On Oct. 17–18, 5-year-old female cheetah Amabala gave birth to four cubs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI). The births occurred while the facility was closed to the public during the U.S. government shutdown; the zoo announced the news on Nov. 15.
The cubs' father is Flash, an 8-year-old male who sired a previous litter with three surviving offspring. While male cheetahs typically do not help raise young, Flash is described by the zoo as a "genetically valuable individual," and his offspring are likely to play a role in future breeding recommendations.
This litter marks two milestones for NZCBI's Front Royal, Virginia campus: it is the facility's 20th cheetah litter and the fifth to be broadcast on the live Cheetah Cub Cam. Amabala herself was born on the live feed, making this birth a particularly meaningful "full-circle" moment for the team.
"The cubs appear to be strong, active, vocal, and eating well," the zoo said. Keepers and veterinary staff are deliberately taking a hands-off approach to allow the first-time mother and her cubs to bond naturally.
Staff note that Amabala may move her cubs within the den or around her habitat, so they may be temporarily out of view of the camera. NZCBI is part of the Cheetah Breeding Center Coalition, a network of U.S. breeding centers that work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' population management center to select breeding pairs based on health, temperament, and genetic compatibility.
Cheetahs are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated 7,000–7,500 individuals remaining in the wild. Primary threats include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. Conservation breeding programs like NZCBI's support population sustainability, research, and public awareness efforts that are critical to the species' long-term survival.
To follow the cubs' progress, viewers can tune in to the Cheetah Cub Cam. Supporters can also learn more about cheetah conservation and the Species Survival Plan (SSP) through the zoo's resources.