King Cheetah census

Arizona Docent said:
@ThylacineAlive well that is a good question. I doubt anyone knows how many cheetahs in the USA population actually carry the king gene. We would certainly hope they are responsible enough not to have mated her cubs (i.e. brother and sister) together.
Click to expand...

I certainly hope so as well! I know there are a few known carriers in the European population but I believe the AZA specifically phased-out all known carriers in the US SSP because they viewed them the same way they view white tigers and Lions now. I don't think Virginia SP is AZA accredited, so any Cheetah breeding they do with these extremely important genetics will likely be outside the SSP unfortunately.

~Thylo
 
KING CHEETAH 2022

I was curious about the genetics of King Cheetah, so I tracked some of the captive population back until I reached a common ancestor; wildborn male (2635) at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre (formerly De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre) in South Africa. He was a spotted carrier of the King gene. Many spotted cheetah also descend from this line, so there is always the potential for more King Cheetah to pop up somewhere in the captive population.

1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991

These 11 King Cheetah are all descended from him. (Living King Cheetah are marked bold):

National Zoo and Aquarium, Australia:

1.0 Jama 6118 (3989 x 4113) 25/05/2005 - 22/08/2008

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Australia:

0.1 Halla 6803 (Masuka 4308 x Asali 6048) 03/10/2009
0.1 Kyan 6804 (Masuka 4308 x Asali 6048) 03/10/2009

Himeji Central Park, Japan:

0.1 Ram (Peace x Lila) 19/03/2018

Tama Zoo, Japan:

0.1 Nadeshiko (Kai x Sumire) 11/06/2011
1.0 Ibuki (Kanga x Kikyo) 10/10/2012
1.0 Fang/Fangu (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013 - 11/05/2020
0.1 Anenome (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013

Virginia Safari Park, USA:

0.1 Mona Lisa (4111 x 5699) 06/06/2009
1.0 Sully/Solomon (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019
0.1 Shani (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019

King George at Zoo Miami came from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. He is descended from a different line, though potentially shares a common wild ancestor with the other captive King Cheetah. He can be connected to the King Cheetah at TWPZ Australia and the ones in Japan, through his mother. He did not produce any offspring.

1.0 King George (Spookie x 2480) 17/10/1998 - 12/09/2014

Zoo Negara also holds a King Cheetah. I’m unsure of his linage. His mother came from Africa and was already pregnant when she arrived in Malaysia.

1.0 Bolt (unk x Tianna) 00/00/2018

This list is not comprehensive of all King Cheetah currently in captivity.

I will post some more detailed info on the King cheetah in each country soon :)
 
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King Cheetah in Australia

National Zoo and Aquarium:

Jama was born at Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre in South Africa. There were 4 cubs in his litter:

1.0 Jama (3989 x 4113) 25/05/2005 - 22/08/2008
1.0 Enigma (3989 x 4113) 25/05/2005
2 died at birth

Enigma was also a King. Neither of the brothers sired any cubs.

Parents:

1.0 3989 (2117 x 2480) 17/10/1998
0.1 4113 (2635 x 2775) 22/06/1999

Taronga Western Plains Zoo:

In 2009 a litter of 4 cubs was born at TWPZ. Two of them were King Cheetah:

0.1 Halla (Masuka x Asali) 03-10-2009
0.1 Kyan (Masuka x Asali) 03-10-2009
1.0 Sefu (Masuka x Asali) 03-10-2009 (Mogo)
1.0 Mokomoto (Masuka x Asali) 03/10/2009-09/03/2015

Between the two sisters, they have produced 7 litters:

Halla 2013:

1.0 Duma
1.0 Jamala
0.1 Leela

Halla 2015:

0.1 Siri

Kyan 2015:

0.1 Jalani
Stillborn

Kyan 2016:

3 x deceased

Kyan 2016:

1.0 Obi
0.1 Zahara
0.1 Nyasa

Halla 2016:

1.0 Laurence

Kyan 2018:

1.0 Denzel
1.0 Bomani
1.0 Radi
0.1 Adayzay
0.1 Zola
0.1 Asha

Halla and Kyan’s Lineage-

Parents:

1.0 Masuka 4308 (2635 x F261 3413) 22/08/2000-16/05/2013
0.1 Asali 6048 (Jala 4298 x Malika 4125) 02/10/2004-14/09/2014

Grandparents:

1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991
0.1 F261 3413 (Spookie 2117 x 2480) 14/04/1995 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre)

1.0 Jala (2635 x FA232 2989) 29/07/2000
0.1 Malika 4125 (MA224 2774 x FA230 2796) 29/09/1999

Great Grandparents:

1.0 Wild
0.1 Wild

1.0 Spookie 2117 (Wildborn) ~01/04/1988
0.1 FA196 2480 (1274 x 2063) 17/04/1991 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre)

1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991
0.1 FA232 2989 (1274 x 2071) 10/04/1993

1.0 MA224 2774 (MA141 2157 x 2101) 30/05/1992 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre)
0.1 FA230 2796 (Wildborn) ~01/12/1991

The Australian King Cheetah sisters have been prolific, producing 15 (7.8) surviving offspring between them. All of them are spotted, however Siri at TWPZ has darker colouration than normal. Of those offspring, Leela at Darling Downs Zoo is the most likely to breed.

Australia Zoo:

1.0 Laurence (Jana x Halla) 26/11/2016

Darling Downs Zoo:

0.1 Leela (Kebeni x Halla) 25/10/2013

Halls Gap Zoo:

1.0 Duma (Kebeni x Halla) 25/10/2013
1.0 Jamala (Kebeni x Halla)25/10/2013

Sydney Zoo:

1.0 Obi (Jana x Kyan) 20/10/2016

Symbio:

0.1 Adayzay (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018
0.1 Zola (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018

Taronga Western Plains Zoo:

0.1 Siri (Kebeni x Halla) 21/05/2015
0.1 Jalani (Jana x Kyan) 11/10/2015
0.1 Zahara (Jana x Kyan) 20/10/2016
0.1 Nyasa (Jana x Kyan) 20/10/2016
0.1 Asha (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018

Hamilton Zoo:

1.0 Denzel (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018
1.0 Bomani (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018
1.0 Radi (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018
 
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King Cheetah in Japan

Four of the King Cheetah in Japan were born at Tama Zoo. Three of them have the same parents, and their mother is the grandmother of the other one. The fifth King Cheetah in Japan was born at Himeji Central Park. Her mother is the spotted sister of one of Tama’s Kings.

0.1 Nadeshiko (Kai x Sumire) 11/06/2011

1.0 Fang/Fangu (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013 - 11/05/2020
0.1 Anenome (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013

Parents:

1.0 Kai (Kaede x Kikyo) 05/03/2008
0.1 Sumire (3410 x 4113) 05/06/2003

Grandparents:

1.0 Kaede (3420 x 3750) 01/08/2002
0.1 Kikyo (3420 x 3635) 23/04/2003

1.0 3410 (Spookie 2117 x 2480) 14/04/1995 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre)
0.1 4113 (2635 x 2775) 22/06/1999 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre)

1.0 Ibuki (Kanga x Kikyo) 10/10/2012

Parents:

1.0 Kanga (Kleintjie x Sumire) 06/01/2009
0.1 Kikyo (3420 x 3635) 23/04/2003

Grandparents:

1.0 Kleintjie (unk x 3418)
0.1 Sumire (3410 x 4113) 05/06/2003

1.0 3420
0.1 3635 (Wild x 3630) ~01/12/1994 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre)

0.1 Ram (Peace x Lila) 19/03/2018

Parents:

1.0 Peace (Lufii x Nancy) 30/04/2008
0.1 Lila (Kanga x Kikyo) 14/12/2011

Grandparents:

1.0 Lufii (3420 x 3983) 17/04/2003
0.1 Nancy (Nevadah x Lettah) 19/04/1998

1.0 Kanga (Kleintjie x Sumire) 06/01/2009
0.1 Kikyo (3420 x 3635) 23/04/2003

Male 3420 was a King Cheetah.
1.0 3420 (Spookie 2117 x 2356) 27/04/1995
 
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King Cheetah in USA

There are currently 3 living King Cheetah in USA. Sully and Shani are the only highly inbred King Cheetah I’m aware of. Their parents are full siblings, and presumably they were mated for the purpose of producing Kings as their mother is a King.

Virginia Safari Park:

0.1 Mona Lisa (4111 x 5699) 06/06/2009

1.0 Sully/Solomon (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019
0.1 Shani (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019

Parents:

1.0 Machozi (Michelangelo x Mona Lisa) 01/09/2014
0.1 Savannah (Michelangelo x Mona Lisa) 01/09/2014

Grandparents:

1.0 Michelangelo (unk x Maggy) 20/05/2006
0.1 Mona Lisa 7828 (4111 x 5699) 06/06/2009

Great Grandparents:

1.0 unk
0.1 Maggy (Boytjie x Suzie) 18/06/2002 at Hoedspruit

1.0 4111 (2635 x 2775) 22/06/1999
0.1 5699 (3420 x 2989)

Great Great Grandparents:

1.0 unk
0.1 unk

1.0 Boytjie (2385 x 2393) 03/05/1991 Hoedspruit
0.1 Suzie (Wildborn) ~01/07/1991

1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991
0.1 2775 (2157 x 2101) 30/05/1992

1.0 3420 (2117 x 2356) 27/04/1995
0.1 2989 (1274 x 2071) 10/04/1993

Zoo Miami also held a King Cheetah. King George came from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, South Africa.

Zoo Miami:

1.0 King George (Spookie 2117 x 2480) 17/10/1998 - 12/09/2014

Parents:

1.0 Spookie (Wildborn) ~01/04/1988
0.1 2480 (1274 x 2063) 17/04/1991

Grandparents:

1.0 Wild
0.1 Wild

1.0 1274 (644 x 814) 12/05/1981
0.1 2063 (989 x 808) 14/04/1984
 
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Both King Cheetah sisters at Taronga Western Plains Zoo have passed away, pre-July 2024.

Halla’s spotted daughter, Siri, miscarried in 2024, and recently had an emergency caesarean. 1 of the 4 premature cubs is surviving. She is a potential carrier of the King gene.

0.1 Siri (Kebeni x Halla) 21-05-2015 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

0.1 (unk x Siri) 22-02-2025 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
 
akasha said:
I have been collaborating with the author of the Messybeast website. She has created a chart of king cheetah lineages for anyone who is interested :)
Click to expand...

So I'm a little late to the party but have some information that may prove interesting!

I can't speak on other Canadian zoos, but I do recall the Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre having king cheetahs (alongside regular-patterned individuals). In browsing their now-defunct website, the earliest mention seems to be January of 1999. There they mention a "King Carl" from the DeWildt/Ann van Dyk Cheetah Center, who (according to the genealogy chart) arrived at Mountain View in 1996 at just under a year old. The second cheetah mentioned, "King Kylie", is said to have been imported in 1997 from "Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Cente" (Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre). I have to assume this is "Katrina" via the genealogy chart.

kcheeta.jpg
kcheet2a.jpg


Now going by the genealogy chart, "King Carl" seems to have been imported alongside a female named "Carla", who unfortunately died only a few months later (and is thus not mentioned on Mountain View's website).

Fast forward to the 2000s, "King Carl" has since passed away and "King Kylie/Katrina" has been joined by a second female from the "Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Center", though I can't seem to find this second individual listed in the genealogy chart. These two females were housed/paired with regular-patterned males from African Lion Safari and the Toronto Zoo respectively.

cheetah6.jpg
cheetah3.jpg


From my understanding (both personal memories and online research), Mountain View was never successful in breeding their cheetahs, let alone those with king markings. And by the end of 2008, it seems they no longer housed any cheetahs. A random anecdote is that the centre had at least one of their regular-patterned cheetahs taxidermied (iirc they had them on display in their learning centre), which makes me wonder what became of the bodies (or at least pelts) of their king cheetahs...
 
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