Three cheetah cubs born in June at The Wilds are healthy and exploring outside their den, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced Aug. 9.

The birth marks the 12th litter produced at the nearly 10,000-acre safari park and conservation center in Cumberland, Muskingum County, which the Powell-based Columbus Zoo manages. It is the first litter for mother Kuki, a 4-year-old who arrived at The Wilds in August 2024 from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Father Glenn, 9, came from Dickerson Park Zoo in May 2023.

"Births like these reflect the strength of collaborative conservation efforts and the important role accredited conservation organizations play in helping protect the future of cheetahs," Dr. Joe Greathouse, vice president of The Wilds, said in a statement reported by NBC4.

The cubs have received their initial vaccinations and begun venturing beyond the den where they were born, according to the release. They may eventually be available to visitors on select behind-the-scenes specialty tours, though access depends on Kuki's comfort level.

Conservation stakes

The Wilds is one of 10 facilities in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Cheetah Breeding Center Coalition, a network that coordinates breeding across accredited zoos to maintain genetic diversity. Fewer than 7,100 adult and adolescent cheetahs remain in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, threatened by habitat loss, declining prey and human-wildlife conflict.

The program's first cubs arrived in 2010. In 2020, the Columbus Zoo and the Smithsonian achieved a world first when two cheetah cubs were born via in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer at the Zoo's main campus.

Local economic anchor

The Columbus Zoo, headquartered on Powell Road in Liberty Township, reported more than $450 million in economic impact for Central Ohio in a 2022 study, the most recent available, sustaining over 5,100 jobs and generating $11 million in tax revenue. At a Powell Development Corporation meeting May 26, board member Philip Whitaker noted strong hotel development interest in the area driven by the Zoo's tourism draw.

The Wilds is open through Oct. 31, with Open-Air Safari tours priced at $35 to $49 per person. The park is about 90 minutes southeast of Powell. Visitors interested in seeing the cubs should check thewilds.columbuszoo.org for specialty tour availability.