World’s first in vitro cheetah cubs born at Columbus Zoo
The first cheetah cubs ever conceived through in vitro fertilization have entered the world, marking a breakthrough for zoo breeding programs — a feat achieved in central Ohio, at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The zoo announced the birth early Monday. The pair of cubs, a male and a female, born Wednesday night to 3-year-old, first-time mother, Isabelle, or “Izzy,” are healthy and bonding together in a den located in a behind-the-scenes area of the zoo, according to a statement.
The zoo continues to monitor them with a remote camera.
“These two cubs may be tiny, but they represent a huge accomplishment, with expert biologists and zoologists working together to create this scientific marvel,” said Dr. Randy Junge, the Columbus Zoo’s vice president of animal health. “This achievement expands scientific knowledge of cheetah reproduction, and may become an important part of the species’ population management in the future.”
The zoo, with partners, decided to use the technique to expand the gene pool of cheetahs in human care. The cubs are not Isabelle’s biological offspring, but instead were conceived using eggs and sperm from other cheetahs with more valuable DNA.
A biologist from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, which leads wildlife research projects worldwide, fertilized the eggs outside the womb in a laboratory and incubated them before implanting the embryos into both Isabelle and her sister, 3-year-old Ophelia, in November.
In December, an ultrasound confirmed Isabelle was pregnant. Ophelia did not become pregnant.
A cheetah’s pregnancy typically lasts about three months. They’re known for being the fastest animals on land, capable of running 65 mph to 75 mph in short bursts.
The Columbus Zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit group of more than 230 accredited institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Association members use a planning process called Species Survival Plans to guide its breeding programs, meticulously tracking the genetic history of their animals and recommending the best breeding pairs.