Chester Zoo Cheetahs

M

MikeyBoyWonder

Member
Visited Chester yesterday and managed to see the new Cheetahs for the first time. The only thing that surprised me was the enclosure. I am no expert on Cheetahs but I always thought they liked large, flat open spaces, in the enclosures in Chester there are large mounds in the middle of the enclosures, they're also on the small side. And definitely not big enough for the Cheetahs to run around.

Basically I would just like somebody better informed to fill me in on whether Cheetahs do actually like this sort of terrain? Oh and also if there are any plans to get females in!?

Thanks.
 
They hope to get females. The three females due to arrive eariler this year were rejected by the zoo for health reasons.

The enclosure is modelled on one in the middle east which has proved to be successful for breeding this subspecies.

I'm no expert on cheetahs but I'm sure the enclosure suits their needs.
 
Im no expert either but I think that while cheetah's do like large open areas they also like to be somewhere where they can see for a long way to find prey and avoid lions. this could include a mound or a rock ect, many of the photos of Cheetahs in the wild, particually those with young do show them on a vantage point such as a rock ect
 
Torie is right, the mounds which there is only one in each enclosure is to provide a look out post for the Cheetah's.

I think this enclosure of great, althought there size are quite small. They have been seen by other forum members chasing each other and playing happily in their new surroundings.
 
taun said:
Torie is right, the mounds which there is only one in each enclosure is to provide a look out post for the Cheetah's.

I think this enclosure of great, althought there size are quite small. They have been seen by other forum members chasing each other and playing happily in their new surroundings.
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Cheetahs are a bit like greyhounds... they only sprint at high speed when they are chasing prey. In captivity they are never going to be able to do that so an enclosure where they can walk, trot and canter around in play is going to be sufficient to provide all their other needs. Hills or mounds are included as vantage points as they like to be able to scan their surroundings (for prey and predators).
 
cheetah

I know a fair amount about cheetah and on the whole i would say it is more than adequate. In the wild cheetah use large termite mounds etc as lookout posts and many photographs in the wild show them atop such large mounds.

Chester are hoping to get females at some point but at present the 4 boys are all in quarantine and will be for around another 5 months. I know there is a certain UK zoo they may get them from. If not they will look abroad, of course that will mean the females will then also have to be placed in quarantine before breeding can be attempted.

The 4 males at chester seem to have settled in well so far as I am aware and I do not believe there is any cause for concern. Cheetah are notoriously difficult cats to breed. Unsuitable enclosures being a major factor. So time will tell as to how adequate the enclosure is.
 
Does anyone have information on the cheetahs at Hamerton . They appear to have acquired more and bred them fairly recently according to ISIS .

With regards to cheetahs using mounds as look-outs , the wild cheetahs seen on BBC Big Cat Watch who were habituated to the crew following them would jump up onto the Land Rover to survey their surroundings .
 
The cheetahs of East Africa use naturally occuring 'kopje' (rocky outcrops, technically inselbergs) as vantage points, as well as termite mounds and TV crews' Land Rovers. ;)
 
Cheers for all that guys. To be fair all the Cheetahs looked happy when we where at the zoo. 2 where play fighting in the smaller enclosure while to other 2 where sleeping the grass in the bigger enclosure!
 
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