Photo courtesy Saint Louis Zoo
Four-month-old quintuplet cheetah cubs—Asha, Bozzie, Chirpa, Milani and Wickett—are now making public appearances at the Saint Louis Zoo. The cubs and their mother gained access to the cheetah habitat at River’s Edge starting, Sept. 17, 2025. The cheetah cubs will be visible for extremely limited hours over the next several weeks as they adjust to their new space. Cora and her quints will frequently have access to their public habitat first thing in the morning (typically between 9 and 10 a.m.). The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but there are no guaranteed times when the cubs will be visible.
The quintuplet cheetah cubs were born May 5, 2025, to first-time parents Cora, age 4, and Vader, age 8, and were soon dubbed “Cora’s Quints.” In their first months of life, the cheetah cubs have bonded closely with their mother and each other behind the scenes in a private habitat at the Zoo. The Animal Care Team has gradually introduced them to new enrichment and experiences to aid their development and prepare them for public debut.
“Cora’s cubs are lively as ever. They have distinct personalities and interact with each other like any siblings would—running, playing and wrestling under Cora’s close watch,” said Julie Hartell-DeNardo, the Saint Louis Zoo Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores. “The cubs have approached each new enrichment with brave curiosity. We’re excited to see them explore this new habitat and for the public to meet this family for the first time.”
All five cubs (three male and two female) are named after the Ewoks of Endor in honor of their parents, Cora and Vader, also named for Star Wars characters.
For more information, visit stlzoo.org/cheetahcubs or follow the Zoo on social media.
Species Survival Plan
Since 1974, the Zoo has been a leader in cheetah reproductive research and breeding. Cora and Vader were paired for breeding on a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Cheetah Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program responsible for maintaining a healthy population of cheetahs in North American zoos. Saint Louis Zoo is one of ten AZA accredited institutions that participate in the national cheetah Breeding Center Coalition (BCC).
Cheetah Conservation
The world’s fastest land animal, the sleek, long-legged cheetah, faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. Historically, cheetahs ranged widely throughout Africa and Asia. Today, fewer than 7,000 wild cheetahs inhabit a broad section of Africa. Over the past 50 years, cheetahs have become locally extinct in at least 13 countries.
The Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute partners with Cheetah Conservation Fund to support the conservation of cheetahs in the wild. The fund works in Namibia and Somaliland to ensure the protection and future of this species.
The Zoo is also a partner of the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Cheetah program, which supports increasing cheetah populations through collaborative conservation efforts.
Environmental Echo 