可以在實時獵豹網(wǎng)絡攝像頭上查看幼崽-獵豹幼崽出生在史密森尼保護生物學研究所
弗吉尼亞州弗朗特皇家史密森尼保護生物學研究所的食肉動物飼養(yǎng)員今天迎來了一窩五只獵豹幼崽。美國東部時間上午
5:20、8:24、9:42、10:33 和 11:17，五歲的雌性羅莎莉產(chǎn)下了幼崽?？梢酝ㄟ^ Cheetah Cub Cam 查看這個家庭。
10 歲的尼克是 SCBI
出生的第一只獵豹，他生下了這窩。動物護理人員會讓羅莎莉在不受干擾的情況下與她的幼崽建立聯(lián)系并照顧它們，因此他們可能需要一段時間才能確定幼崽的性別。幼崽看起來很強壯，很活躍，聲音很好，吃得很好。當羅莎莉愿意長時間離開幼崽時，飼養(yǎng)員將對幼崽進行健康檢查。
工作人員正在通過網(wǎng)絡攝像頭密切監(jiān)視羅莎莉和她的幼崽的行為。虛擬訪客可以在這個臨時平臺上觀察羅莎莉和她的幼崽，直到幼崽離開巢穴。飼養(yǎng)員為羅莎莉提供了進入多個窩點的機會，因此她有可能將幼崽移到鏡頭外的位置。
“看到 Rosalie 成功地照料這窩崽崽——這是她的第一只——充滿信心，這是非常值得的，”SCBI
的獵豹生殖生物學家兼動物園和水族館協(xié)會獵豹物種生存計劃負責人 Adrienne Crosier 說。
“能夠見證獵豹生命的最初時刻是非常特別的。當網(wǎng)絡攝像頭觀眾觀看我們的獵豹家族成長、玩耍和探索周圍環(huán)境時，我們希望這種體驗能給他們帶來快樂，并幫助他們與這個脆弱的物種建立更深層次的聯(lián)系。
”
SCBI 是獵豹繁育中心聯(lián)盟的一部分，該聯(lián)盟由遍布美國的 10 個獵豹繁育中心組成，旨在創(chuàng)造和維持人類照料下的可持續(xù)北美獵豹種群。這些幼崽是 Cheetah SSP 的重要補充，因為每個人都為該計劃做出了貢獻。
SSP
科學家通過考慮基因組成、健康和氣質等因素來確定要繁殖哪些動物。羅莎莉和尼克在 7 月 9 日和 10
日配對并繁殖。飼養(yǎng)員訓練羅莎莉自愿參加超聲波檢查，SCBI 獸醫(yī)于 8 月 16 日確認她懷孕。自 2007 年以來，SCBI 已經(jīng)出生了 16
窩獵豹幼崽。
獵豹生活在小型、孤立的種群中，主要分布在撒哈拉以南非洲。他們的許多據(jù)點位于非洲東部和南部的公園。由于人類沖突、偷獵以及棲息地和獵物基地的喪失，野外估計只剩下 7,000 至 7,500 只獵豹。國際自然保護聯(lián)盟認為獵豹很容易滅絕。
動物園的保護工作遺產(chǎn)從華盛頓特區(qū)的公共動物園延伸到弗吉尼亞州皇家前線的
SCBI。 SCBI 的科學家研究并培育了 20 多個物種，其中包括一些曾經(jīng)在野外滅絕的物種，例如黑足雪貂和彎刀角羚羊。動物在占地超過
3,200
英畝的專業(yè)谷倉和建筑群中茁壯成長。廣闊的環(huán)境允許進行獨特的研究，這些研究有助于具有獨特需求的受威脅、難以繁殖的物種的生存，特別是那些需要大面積、自然群體規(guī)模和最小公共干擾的物種。
SCBI 在其弗吉尼亞州總部、華盛頓特區(qū)的動物園以及世界各地的實地研究站和培訓地點率先開展研究項目。 SCBI 科學家通過應用和分享他們在動物行為和繁殖、生態(tài)學、遺傳學、遷徙和保護可持續(xù)性方面的知識來應對當今一些最復雜的保護挑戰(zhàn)。
Cheetah Cubs Are Born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Cubs Can Be Viewed on the Live Cheetah Webcam
Oct. 12, 2021
Animal care staff at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute welcomed a litter of five cheetah cubs to mother Rosalie Oct. 12.
Carnivore keepers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute?in Front Royal, Virginia, welcomed a litter of five?cheetah cubs today. Five-year-old female Rosalie birthed the cubs at 5:20 a.m., 8:24 a.m., 9:42 a.m., 10:33 a.m and 11:17 a.m. ET. The family can be viewed via the Cheetah Cub Cam. Ten-year-old Nick, who was the first cheetah born at SCBI, sired this litter. Animal care staff will leave Rosalie to bond with and care for her cubs without interference, so it may be some time before they can determine the cubs'?sexes. The cubs appear to be strong, active, vocal and eating well. Keepers will perform a health check on the cubs when Rosalie is comfortable leaving them for an extended period of time.
Staff are closely monitoring Rosalie and her cubs’ behaviors via webcam.?Virtual visitors can observe Rosalie and her cubs on this temporary platform until the cubs leave the den. Keepers provided Rosalie with access to multiple dens, so it is possible she may move the cubs to an off-camera location.
"Seeing Rosalie successfully care for this litter—her first—with confidence is very rewarding,"?said Adrienne Crosier, cheetah reproductive biologist at SCBI and head of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums'?Cheetah Species Survival Plan. "Being able to witness the first moments of a cheetah’s life is incredibly special. As webcam viewers watch our cheetah family grow, play and explore their surroundings, we hope the experience brings them joy and helps them feel a deeper connection to this vulnerable species."
SCBI is part of the Cheetah Breeding Center Coalition—a group of 10 cheetah breeding centers across the United States that aim to create and maintain a sustainable North American cheetah population under human care. These cubs are a significant addition to the Cheetah SSP, as each individual contributes to this program.
The SSP scientists determine which animals to breed by considering their genetic makeup, health and temperament, among other factors. Rosalie and Nick were paired and bred July 9 and 10. Keepers trained Rosalie to voluntarily participate in ultrasounds, and SCBI veterinarians confirmed her pregnancy Aug. 16. Since 2007, 16 litters of cheetah cubs have been born at SCBI. ??
Cheetahs live in small, isolated populations mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Many of their strongholds are in eastern and southern African parks. Due to human conflict, poaching and habitat and prey-base loss, there are only an estimated 7,000 to 7,500 cheetahs left in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers cheetahs vulnerable to extinction.
The Zoo’s legacy of conservation work extends beyond the public Zoo in Washington, D.C., to SCBI in Front Royal, Virginia. Scientists at SCBI study and breed more than 20 species, including some that were once extinct in the wild, such as black-footed ferrets and scimitar-horned oryx. Animals thrive in specialized barns and building complexes spread over more than 3,200 acres. The sprawling environment allows for unique studies that contribute to the survival of threatened, difficult-to-breed species with distinct needs, especially those requiring large areas, natural group sizes and minimal public disturbance.
SCBI spearheads research programs at its headquarters in Virginia, the Zoo in Washington, D.C., and at field research stations and training sites worldwide. SCBI scientists tackle some of today’s most complex conservation challenges by applying and sharing what they learn about animal behavior and reproduction, ecology, genetics, migration and conservation sustainability.
