WILD NEW JERSEY: New York Times: Zoos Play Matchmaker for Rare Species

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WILD NEW JERSEY: New York Times: Zoos Play Matchmaker for Rare Species

New York Times: Zoos Play Matchmaker for Rare Species

A 2-month-old cheetah cubs sits on a stuffed animal nicknamed “Mom” during the noon feeding at the National Zoo in Washington.
Photo Credit: Luke Sharrett

After cautiously sniffing the grass, three male cheetahs at the animal-breeding center here suddenly began running in frenzied circles. It was a sign that a female cheetah that normally lives in the yard was in heat.

Then one of the males let out a low, seal-like bark — a signal for an even higher state of arousal. The other males were excused.

To maximize the chances for successful breeding, scientists have learned to separate cheetahs by gender, even preventing them from seeing each other before they mate. It turns out that familiarity can be a turnoff for cheetahs, too.