Zoological Society of San Diego. 1990. Cheetah SSP Newsletter - summer. Cheetah News.

Keywords: Acinonyx jubatus/captivity/cheetah/cub/newsletter/radio telemetry/report/reproduction/SSP/zoo

Abstract: Cheetah News from summer 1990. Articles about: Cheetah SSP Report, Progress on captive cheetah studies, Cheetah litter at White Oak Plantation, Overview of the Toledo Zoo's Cheetah Program, Cheetah Cubs at St. Louis Zoo, News from Fossil Rim, Radiotelemetry Project, Update from the Toledo Zoo on reproductive exams.

l$$*.,.-, --C HE E TAH NEWSi:.,,1: ;:i$,iiiti{5.

.HEETAH ssp NE*SLETTEB

j,i*-'?ffit'-" r*r:rFir::i**--l:.1' cheetah ssP Report'

The cheetsl ssP has iniliaild vandus rs Ler€rs requesiing a35is6nce in firndins rhepo.!d oftne R€*arch MAter Pla.. 'nre relro. ch.etnl Research Masbr Pls were nail.ddudive icah of Dayid Wildt Mit h Bnsch, eanier rhis year io the Direcr.rs and rns!i!!.Jocayle Howard and sody Hurtbuft }ave iioul R2presenblivss. Thtu .equ*r followedcomplet€drepDductiveevalnalionsonaloialof ihe reconncnded cuidelines set up by ihe63 MiDals at eighi inrlturions (rn'hite oal AAzpn" The request j6 sfi.tly volutary a.dPlntabon, OlbhoD! Cily, St, Iauis, Fo$il gives suss€st€d anomrs 1ba! ee wdld tike toRimwildlifecenter,Caldwell,Clevelsd,Toledo re..iye frdn €ach i.stitution t co.iinue oursd Fort Wayne). A p..liminary repo.t i s bei.g in ports I r.search. W€ redli ze that every in sti-developed by D avid wi ld! for presenrliion at th e iuti on will noi b€ able ro give t}l is .nodr, bulssP neelins in Indimapolis. Dr. wildl rar *.hopetharlheywilsivevhar.veriheirbudctrnoled thal pa.a-owrie cFis have been ob, vill allo{. To da!d, six insiiiuiions have civenrer€d on 3evsd of rhe lehales ud rsqu.dld rhe tutl snour Equcsled by rlE SSp.thalifdy femdleshoulddi€tleitheirEprod!.- Tte inport pem

of.tetl}s ftom Nanibi!,iive trd h€ .di to th. Nali dnal Zoo usins ,he rh ar se hrve disued ror Ae l*t few,€ars wasli|3 tumisled by Lind, Mubsob. The next subnitt€d to lhe pen ofn.e inJeu;ry, 1990.crour or roprodugtiye evaluaiions will be @n. rhis was . vsry 6nplu and derajbd;{mndlcie d ' eli spribg. appl ic!!io. a.d ee ara sril al rhi s poinr ;ai6ng

Lin& Muson har d;fibuled one ne$oplr fo. info-'1ion r-- d,e De-il o6e on iltkil io .rch itutiiution fo. us on an as need ba Eis. apptuval.Thee ki t3 ar. to b€ u sed fdr tI e Clloeiri SSP Tte Cheereh SSp heeiin E fo. rhe NarionslNeNpsyPE!@lddnol hranyorhprssP con,cFn.e ,n Ind.rnepotis k *h.dJhd ror

We ar. oDe.atins on Sahrda, Sepr€mb€r 2,, 1990i &oh ?:O O to 3:OOve.y lirit€d tunds ud ! @!ple of drse kik p.D. If antne hss ! Rquesr for iteDs to h€bavebem 6.dfo. ssP/.esearne.s req!.s!. Dr. ;l*"d ", rtie a€€id, r ;h6 t" -,r," , pres.Dierenfeld has eceiv.d sone diet sanples lrom ;nta6 on, pless; Lt ne k.o* in niiing ,s;ooninsiilutiod. Dr. Tin Caro has mad. lEtini asposjbl;.narv fils b lhe sm DieF zoo, collmbus 26 Ehcrions tor the ssp propacrrion croupand Fossil Rin wildlife ce.ier in pEpablionfo. in iari}s his b€hayionl dbBewaiiors.

*ere }eld md John LdaE rMit€ oak) Don. w :15k1 . . o t Jmbr . \ md sd .s M i t8 ,d Ls31

eacn of nre insrtuliona,,.pre.enlarives in 3::,i,i'ffLj'�iffj,."#:*"ffiT1xl,sJ:i&,1F.bruary, 19 90. These were ni hor ftvisions in Oi"go) to.l,e, L etp in th. lasi a" , -"-b.. otltetle res.atul prctomls fron each ofth. jnyesti p-;,s,ri", CDup. H;tna wil coniinue ro

*we as ednor fo. rhe Cheelai SSp Newstefter.

Progrcss on CaptiveCheetah Studies

In 1939, ihe Chcelat SSP Conniitle dedsRdma.ihosly that ilE iighesi pridty fo. tleNonh ame.ican cheebh population w.3 roude8ta.d wr,y th6 species Bpnduced p@rl,in .aptivity. Ar a Esulq ii was on.luded ihslerery etrolt rhould b€ nddc t ud€Etmd r.lebioloF/ oftt'e EpecieE ihDwh tlE devdlopn€nlofa r.semh na8t€rphn. the rea! de signaledao. noE ini{sive etudJ involsd r.produciive!}lysidlo6i, bdavir, senetie, inlodiols db.sases, rufition .nd infdl no.telily/supivor.ship, Ii aho was daidsd tlri a preRquisit tbecinnirs delailed studi€s b, ilE va.idus SSPscienti6c advisoB would bc a detail.d "physio.

logicrl $w.J. of6e Norih Anenca. pdpnla.tion. The idea *as io det€nir. th. rhysial,h.alth md ..produdive stsia ofevery arinaloapolent'.lbEedingag.. Pdrii.ula.enpl'AisMst b€ placed on 6np!ri.s broodi.g v.Budnon.bssding anioal.. Allhoush several zodssiih c)let8nshawtheirom roproduciiv. st!flnw6dinportsit!lrwasinslet,Devaluleih.cf, eetlhl, prisatlybeausetehniqucsvary.iong i.siitutins. Td rairrr a!s!e th. ditferences ano.s eimh md i.stitutions, sll .ninah ned io b. asresded uniforDly. Di.DlvidWild!, It€prdu.iive Adyidor io ih. SSP and at ar fron tie Nauo.al zootogical Pd't weierequested md aBreed t .orduci ihe suryey.

Ber*een Jsnury and nidJue rhe NaiiomtZoo t€an *hicl6n6idt d ofDave Wildi, Mit hBush, Jocnyle Howard,M.rk Barneand SandyHurlbut ndveil their nobile laborarory ope&-rion io 3 insiiiuiion!: wtr e o3I Plsnt tion,Fdsil Rin Wildl;f. C6nt!r, Caldwell Zoo, Oklehna Cit, z@losical Parlq St lruih Z.dlocicalParI, Clevetand Meimparls zooloeical pad(,Ft. Wayne Children s Zoo and tl'e loledo zoo,lo8i.d Cardds. Th€, e{nin.d. robl of35f.n.l.6 a.d 23 nales rffsinc froD 1 ye,r,9monlhs ro 15y.as,2 nonihdjn rge. All aninalsvere safely a.€sthelizd sith th. drug Telrzol,weigled, D€asured, sd *nal blood s.nptds*ere .olecled fo. tI€ oalysh ol various Dituibry, s.nadal and adEnal hononeg Bl@d aDda iisEu. l3ldn) 5anple ale *ere taken lor oncuRntstudiesbyot[erSSPadvisors.on.eoedwi$ E€neiis and vcierinary hslti.

FeDsleE fiGi eeE "challens€d" wiih 6n injetion ofgm.doLain releasinghoro.o, a na!u..al hrTdthallhi. homme u*d tr t€st norndp uitary tunction. Each tlEn w& subj.cred lolapab*opy dd the Rp.odu.tive lnd ehn.i.€d and vidmtaped and liver btoD6ie6 obtainedror dnultn$us studiA oflive. hisiolos'. Tb6vdgina also was evaluat€d abd vaginal tultuEs6d .n6.! ta}€n. A.Bthetiz.d nal* ftErobject€d io a Esine.rcd .lecrF6jrNlaridn *qum€ .nd ihe ienm smple ihe. eipo&d io .battery of bloalory t€dtirB p.o.edn e6. lolddition to Fl.ulatingih.iotsl nunb€rof Epenptudued, delsiled asseesnenE als *.re nadeof tl. nmbe. of slructurally alnom.l Bp.mpedled D.r nsle. Ea.h Eenen snple alsow!6 exposed t difieE.r Lbohtory tErln.ntsto dotemin. which one allowedi)'e spefr td liEth€ loq€si in ! laboraiory €nvitunn.nl Fi-nally, elh sanple was p.cessed md .nl!!Edt4€iher wiih don*ric.ar*E t t€stlhesbilty orsa.h nale s spem ro penei.at€ m egg. Anddifietion oa thi6 as$y i5 usd Fulinely lotsi f€.tiliiy in hunes. I$ehale's t st6! ftEpalpat d an{Lneasureatsd t}'e psi6 *asexahi.ed lof lbnomalilies.

All anihal s :e.ov.red well ftoh t]'cir evslnations. h faci,2 wdels afid ihe €raDin,lions,one pair orcheetlhs atrheWhits Oak Pldntaiionb.ed a.d produced ? cubs 8tre. a ,omol gd5ta.

Tle 1990 suney i3 conplet€, a.d Dr. Wildiindiqles that all Fn.ining aninlb will besheduled for exanimtio. between Ma!.i andJundofr99l. AE nisht be iucibed, thtu *orklas gln.rat d a nasive snou, da raw da1!a.d iheNational Zoi. sunnarizingasnuch *posible so tlsi 5 prelimi.lry Eport .m benad. at the fdrihconing SSP onnittee mcsr.inc i, rndi anapori 5. alihougt Di wil dr i relucbnl t! nake ho na.y @ndusions at lhis tin.,iheE weo 2 Stneral oheMiiors ofnote, iiEi,ejlcllares .ontrining ndlile spen sae ob,ra'ned frcn 2? ofth 23 n8l$ which is enconr,acing Seobdly, ther. w& an extrenely nishinciden.e of pan ovarian cysts in th. f.nrlepopuldlion. The6e an fluid fiIed sacs bo! di-.etly on ihe ovary bu! all.ched io lhe sqjacent

cheetah Liner at white oak Plantation

In Msy oftnis y.ar a lttt€r of,!.3 ch.elli ldit b! wd b.n d Wr tG Od( Pl&t!ti6 to a 3.t2 yedroldremllew) llailb.en)'and r*Ed. The nother, Mandy, waa puu.d ]B! thm,I3nouB aft€rbi rdnetono|]1€r.?slecL she *a. hard raisedin ihehome olihe DiEcior. At 6 Donih!.13c€ 3he ss pui ina pen adjdcmt t h.r n otlei and sibling8 Atid . Donth and a half sh€ was in tlgat d *i$ [.r Bib[nesrit)re!an.tin.thaltiemoth6wasseparated,Ib!olineatallMmdyvaegettnsalong{ell,infa.is$uning th. dominant Dostion i' the gnup.

Duinsa3dayerlrougc'.lothiswint r,Mandr*asbredh9a,rearoldnale. ThisDaleisminporlfnn Sont} Afica md i}is i5 hi5 6si 6u4.$ful bre€di.g, tlthough he Ia6 ben with fenales on 3we.alocadidns in th. pasi. Albr a gEs!.iio! perioa ol appDriDalely 91 days, !n s wa6 obs.w.d, via . yided

Fron tl6 b.Elning Ma.dy bol sbod .are of all df ier liitens hd reDained caln slh keepeEbroudif fed md nade dG. daily obs€mlidtu. Be.!6. of Mlnd/s tm!.r6nenl w. w.E able to}andle ihs ldltcb. regulr.ly wilhonl disturhm.e t $eir uti.e. lm hft€.s weE iE,t€d drily forDi nor nedical pDblen s; one for m infecied uhbilicu, ihe dthdr fo. d eyd infection. When the ldtiensweie 6 weeks old tne BnallAi nrle developed ! lBiiculd. h8mia md died ftoh mnplication! du;nsanesuresia rt the Unive*it' ofnonda. Th. rohainins 6litlens.ontinu to thriv..

Overview ol the Toledo Zoo'sCheetah ProgEm

I'he Toldo zoo h€gs a .n66l'n bE.dingprcBrun in r9?l with tle acqujsilion of 2.2adults. AU *ee $o to iir@ yea.s old. ilittarof four.ubs was pnduced fron thh smup int I71. Eve tt'ough thsE was an oo-goibgb:..d-inc projc.t in.lud'ng t)le addilron oaoi[er che6tahs, rhe nen binh wae ndi unril 1939.

In 1933, ,.2 adllts (fou io six years ofsge)

.tolD l,ut33Whit6 Ork Plartation

w.re a.quird fton Dewildl S.A. 'Iheir r.lo-lue .o.sid! of ttr small oG'oriibii loldingyanls, ! feed case ed a t! acE valley. Thecheebnd aE sble io hve nightly dd yearlyoutsido a6.$ by supplyi.g shelt E ir .acnrRa. We d*isa€d a pro8 n to 3uit our situalion bd*d on hfomaiio. cdlletad f.on teep.B at 6@*6tu1 bEeding insiitulimr.

The .a!6 ... Ftlt€d rhrou€h difiefeft ro€-tjoru md cohbin,iion! (i..., Lr, r.2, er..) everyfive to sev.n days. The.otalins is dme {h.n-eve. the binak ap!€4 !o b€ h6bituied t3either sn srea or pannei Obse*arion! aRdon. as olt n 16 !o *ible uins chans develo!€dton tle ciFhr Br|4ddn,nd r,ef nldonFbyFldl... Alch-Snrdei md Suss Millard. Th.adult3 a& f.d .anine NebBskanve dlys a we.*and dead rabbits lhe oiner !*o dayE. Tley 5l soreceive lnu.kle bones twie a wek.

We u*pect€dly begs 'otliing sinds*h en a f.nal. edcap€d fton D exhibii. Sf,e wagheld i. an of|.e ibitlionaEauiitrhefen.insRft nodified. AiLs si weeks, ihe fe6al. {asre inhotu.ed to rhe p'oErun. Bre€dins oc.ured in !h. off-.xnibit area while housed *itha single nale. The bR€ding feDale is alwaysplatft lrdo$lot'of tulling,tailnickins,rubbingasainsi tbe hal., .!c.; ih€.efoE, he. behaviolwhilei. eslrusvasthe san.*I€rddilybehav.ioi lhe .on b.edi.g Eale pa.sd ihe adjacenifence and stutle. called whil. tbe fenale was i.esltus. A total of two bEedings wer. ob6erved

In p.epa.riion for tio birt}, one ofihe EnallFrds *aB set trp wirh video lutuillance thaipann.d ih. yaid a.d zooned in or ihe oukid.shelter. In dditioq, b.ai6d d.n w h a two.*!y niror and yideo qne.a ws rvrilabl. totle fenale. ftrD uas alt&hed to the fme !opevent cljnbihg by tlE cubs, The pregn6nrremah aas &par6t d fron the otle$ iwenry.one days p;or to pariurilion. Dunns nos! ofthepEsla.cy, ehe had a l$s olBppeiit€ and wentofffeed the &y b€lo.e patutiion. Nipples *ere€ry vidble two w€eh€ b€aoF sivirg birih.

Cheelah Cubs at St. Louis Zoo

Tbe sL I4uis zbo i6 rleased L Dnoln.e ihebirrh of iwo fenole cl1eerih o:b! on Aprit r,

Bs!& ofp.6t medicsl p.obleBs witb ramccheebls, ihe st!frde.ided io h'd re.. ih. cubsin dre ChildE.'s Zo nu6ery.

Unfo.tullely, on. of the bsni€6 dsv.loDedp.eunoda at 13 days ofage 3nd died. T$ e oth.rdb,naD.d"Chiku',app€d6lEalthytudwillbeon diplay ob May 1r in ihe childrens z.o.

Tlis iE the third ltt€r produ.ed tr rhe &veoyoe old noihe4 Sukan, w6o *16 aho bom ,irhe sL huis zdo, Miani, rhe faiher, i. oobree.tibsloan frcn "wildlife S,Iari" in Winston,Ord8ln. Nine Litie.s lnd ,? bi.ihs have beenr..orded at the Cheeidr Sutuivrl Center.

Qheetlns ars hishly endmseied cat3 thdt drepbtec!€d i! ilE wild. BeGuse ol popuhtion.€du.lions, ii bas b€.n shdm thri .Ietlhs inihe *ild lach geneti. diy.rsity T}ey have lowdis..6e .$ituce, high infaoi nortrtity 6dIow Ep.adn.tiv€ lorenrial .onp3red td o!h.r

Popllationoflhecheetahineastcn&d5ou 1em Afri.a b etimaied at less tlm 10,000. %oshaye developed a SDecje Suwiwl PIan to in.crease de rlnb€r dfcheebnsthrough a captivebre.dins p.osru, O (spring reprcdu.ed r hesr l]ouir zool cheeidr sunival cenie. 0dinpor&r*eprodu.tive info.nalion about lhenis shared sith olhdr zooE in hope ol saving thise.dilsDred s!.cies fron eni.ction,

Ary Ghere. dd Sufue EulaldTol€do Zoo, Ch€etxl Kee!€E

News trom FossilBim

La&st d.;elopnents sitll Fdssil RiD s ch.etdr pnsnn include:InSepreDb€roflasrr.ar,aliftsofonenaleddthr..f6n6l€ssupivod,bnginsthet ralt 33.ubs

T hi5 Ap.il, s t aD ofreprodu.li* phFiotosiEis fmn rhe WashinCton Nsriond zootogjol park rpenla we.l at Fo$il Rin, {anining 19 .heeirns. the i6n vill 6!r!lish a dars}6e ot rcDrodu&iveinibrmalion lhdt nichi b€lt€r deli.e ih. rtublens inflerci.g .aptiye-b.eedjns behrvidr,

On Ju. r3lh, rn 13,mdnt]j old nale chet h named Kian ar;ved ai ihe Fossil Rin Wildlite Cenier' ' omAn"Frd in , H l t t and 1 \ " .dop . , , " vpp ro je f l o "s "nov " r .hmdr r r sasobp ,vp " rFos r tR ,methe wasenMr Wildl,fe Br.€di.! Ce.ke

The IMA Cheetsn &cililyfea;res sucb Efinenentsas hdldmsandroraton yardsfiarlre used tor""d, tF4 and ob+de rh. 'ninah, 'nd a $sFn otqatts and saFs.h,r a ow,n,nal.,.e p"Tonn"lLo moqc {ng re tud roup !o lo t sbany01"o f5e . fn ta rEpps . Th^ .h *bh" . ,nb€ i "o t ,Fd f ro *e " . .

rovpBa lmo . t s i r L1 r rn , Fd3c , f s ,nd .1 ;udF L &k ! .h , I h i i h . , , h " . , ho* "0 _o ,n rho ,n " . : , ,habitat), tE$ md a neara coverage of s.ds

Dr. Tin Cam, head of cheetsh SSP behdviorsl Esearh, *ill bs wdrking with Fossil Rih uris Gltslecifi.ally ob the rludy of Dlle .oaltions.

Tl,ee Dlle .heetak aE ou! on breedins I un. One .at is on tda. ro Bin der park z@ in Bdrile c reerM.ch.EU, yrh rhe o'hcr -wd at !h. Pho"nrr z.o

Rsdiotelemetry Project

The St Louis zoo hds fithd ihEe female.heerahs wilh radio coll*s 10 try !o lerrn morer bour th eir reprodurivd proceses. The co

srssendadiosi8nak,viaaniennasnour.darosdthe .heebh .onpoDdi tha! hi us know *h.nth€ cheehhs are adive and *Ien ther are Es1in& welopetonar.hrheira.iivtypart ns!ofien Eprodldi ve crlles. We slsp.d th sr theyaie nore Eslless vhen lhey !E rsady io breed.

Th€se .ie1ab5 a.e ako serding us qiiicatbody lenperatuE intormation by neans otanoiher ryp. of rransni[er wi6in rheir abdo-mens. The body tenperarure inplants, whi.I.r.dboultlesiaof abarof soap,lroconplet€tyi.ertandhdmless lo the aninrl. They wer€insetud in a sinpte p.eedur. perfoned by oneof ou. velerira.ianr while rhe .iinats werean.slhetized. Weioperorelehchrges jnbodykmperarule ro Rp.oducrion, .ealizing lS. facilhat in host ndnmsls 3 ris. in tenperalure

Tb$ush oni sludies, we lrope !o be able roprcdi.t wh€n t€r3les ar. ready tor brecd,ns,. v "n i t sssohe l imeshapp€nc , th€ynan i fes tno

The mdioklemetry Fojed is runded in Drnb! r Fanl f.on lhe N;on-cnffis Frrnd oi r.hcNew York zoological So.iety. Ihe eqniphenlwassuplliedbylvildlireMah.ials, Inc.,sndhssbeen nodified !o meet our sDe.ili. needt Thebigsesl p.obleF has been ro devise trsnsmi$dmrhat operal€ on tuquencies thai ue diderenrrron CB rad,o rd ourrsudio sisnats

Contrcr S6* Svop€,FGdil RiD Foun.latior (al7) 497-3t,t?

Zoo votuntecrs and several universfty s!n.dents hsve been oakins b€havioral obsewa!ion5!o confi rn thea&ura.yof the radio siEnrkwhenlheyindi.ah.hee!.ha.tivily Becruleofrhe rar3€ amdun!otintomation S.nerared frohthr Frojed. s

data frcm the rdivily andbodytenperaiuretsnsnilleG arbeinsshred in a

C\@ra'r Srldtec bnrinud fnh poge 2

The uu* o. sicniGcme of tles a.e no1 r.ownyel md Dr. Wild! 'illbepoyidingnor€ on rhis andolher deiaft at lhe forth.oning SSP me.ting.

Di Wildt and ure National Zoo t€rn are parucularly appE.iarive ofthe .@p.m!idn 6nd hospitaliry prwidedby all dfihe pariiciparing itutilutionsThe suwey has b€en support€d by NOAIS Cenrer*i$ donationg b.ing re..iv.d fron lhe BinderPark zoo, clevelud Mei.oparks zoologi.lr P.rk,Si. t uis Zologi.al Pa.k, Toledo %olosical G8rdens ed wlit€ Odr Pleration a. *ell as hdnypnvabontrihutoBth.owhotrilhe coDtry. Thoseib6ritulions inicfes|d in .onhibuting io the .onplerio. oftl'e hb.nL.y rnalyses ed ihe cmple-tion of th. 6uwey in 1991, shonld co.iact MsLau;e Marlcr.I(raus, Inlc&otional Siudboo*Icepe. fo. rhe cheet8]l, Noans cenlef, NarionalZoologic.l Paik,Snith6dnian In6titution, W'sIinetln, DC ,0003 (i.leplone 202.673-1639).

Update From the Toledo Zooon Reproductive Exams

On Jre 13, 1990, lhe reprdldive inveligaiivet€an fron rle Nsrional zoo visil€d us and didwork.uF on three otour sdult simals (2.1). Thebre{tins renale {w]jo l1ad cubs on Ap.il 13) andlast y$/s cubs were noi exsnined. T.e e,Dvork.d well wfth our st tr and ihe pr@e$ *enlvery smooihly. rn the evenjngi ar d infonargdlhenng, nucn infomalion was shrred anonelbetumsdoursi!tr It was ttuly s edu.alionalexpden.e for all invotved. we took forward treeiving in Sept€hb€r the lElininary Etull3 onall63 uiDalc done b d,b. r. addiiidn, we lodrfoRard to ihe.elurn ofihe iean io euminc ou.

cheetah News EdlrorZoologlcsl Soclely ol San DiegoPost Otfice Bor 551S€n Dlego, CA 92112-0551

3000 Block ol Connecr et Avo., Nw