Congrats to Grainne and Archie

Cork is now home to five more cheetahs!

Fota Wildlife Park recently announced the birth of five new Northern cheetah cubs to mother Grainne and father Archie.

The five cubs, comprising three females and two males were born on 10 August and spend several hours a day playing with mum Grainne in their leafy habitat on Cheetah Hill at the County Cork visitor attraction. The cub’s mother Grainne is four years old and was born in Fota Wildlife Park, and she previously gave birth to a litter of three cubs on Saint Patrick’s Day last year, whereas 12 year old Archie is a first time dad.

Head ranger, Julien Fonteneau said: “Personally this is my first time to witness the birth of such a big litter. Five cubs are certainly very rare. I’m thrilled to say that they all are thriving. The cubs are very active and a delight to see every day, up at the top of their habitat playing and annoying their mother Grainne, who seems to be taking it all in her stride. We’re asking the public to vote to name the cubs via an online form on our blog at fotawildlife.ie/news and to be in with a chance to win one of five Conservation annual passes.”

The Northern cheetah subspecies is considered endangered by the International Union of Conservation of Nature as there are less than 800 left in the wild.

A total of 238 cheetahs have been born at Fota Wildlife Park since 1984.