Five cheetah cubs born at Prague Zoo on June 18 — four males and one female — have survived violent storms and their mother Daenerys's later intestinal infection. Keepers praised Daenerys for licking the cubs' fluffy coats to keep them dry, which likely helped prevent pneumonia. The cubs are reported lively and healthy, but staff warn it may take up to a year before they clear the most critical postnatal period. Conservationists say every cub is vital as fewer than 7,000 cheetahs remain in the wild.
Quintuplet Cheetah Cubs Survive Storms and Mother's Illness at Prague Zoo
Four of the newly born cheetah quintuplets rest at their enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. / Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Five cheetah cubs born at Prague Zoo on June 18 have pulled through a dramatic early life that included violent storms and their mother's subsequent illness, the zoo said on Friday.
Four of the newly born cheetah quintuplets rest at their enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. / Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek
The quintuplets — four males and one female — were born outdoors to first-time mother Daenerys. Shortly after the birth, a spell of severe storms hit Prague, making the cubs' first days particularly precarious.
One of the newly born cheetah quintuplets walks by its mother, Daenerys, at their enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. / Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Mother's Care and a Close Call
Although inexperienced, Daenerys was praised by keepers for nursing her brood under challenging conditions. Curator Pavel Brandl said Daenerys shielded the cubs from driving rain and repeatedly licked their fluffy coats to help keep them dry — a behavior the zoo highlighted as key to their survival.
Three of the newly born cheetah quintuplets walk at their enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. / Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek
"Thanks to the mother's attentiveness, all five cubs survived the heavy downpours," the zoo said. "Soaking and subsequent pneumonia — along with predation — are common causes of mortality in cheetah cubs in the wild. It appears, however, that the mother dried her young by licking water from their fluffy coats with a characteristic dorsal mantle."
In August Daenerys developed an intestinal infection and required treatment, adding to the early challenges for the family. Despite that setback, the zoo reported the cubs appeared lively and healthy at the most recent check.
One of the newly born cheetah quintuplets rests at its enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. / Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Outlook and Conservation Context
Brandl cautioned that the first year remains the most critical for cheetah cubs: "At this moment, everything seems fine, but it's still a long run," he said, noting it may take up to a year before the cubs safely pass the most vulnerable period.
Conservationists stress every cub matters: fewer than 7,000 cheetahs are estimated to remain in the wild, and the zoo reports a 25% drop in cheetah numbers housed in European zoos since 2020. "Every successfully reared cub is therefore both an achievement and a source of hope," the zoo said.
The Prague Zoo also reminded readers of broader threats to the species, citing an incident last October when 11 cheetah cubs were rescued from illegal trade in Somaliland in one of the largest confiscations on record.
For now, keepers are monitoring Daenerys and her quintuplets closely, hopeful that this resilient start will translate into strong, healthy juveniles and a small but meaningful contribution to cheetah conservation.
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