Cheetah #Cubdate 4: Cub Weighing

If you have followed along with #Cubdates 1 through 3, by now you know that cheetah Echo’s four cubs are thriving. Last week, keepers sexed the cubs and learned that there are three boys and one girl. In this week’s #Cubdate we take you behind the scenes at the cub weighing! 

Cheetah biologist Adrienne Crosier and her team of keepers continue to peek in on the cubs when Echo leaves the den. The cheetah cubs’ eyes are open, and they are much more mobile and playful. 

Keepers also continue to weigh the cubs every few days. This helps ensure that the cubs are gaining weight and healthy. If you listen closely to the video, you can hear keepers mention the hip, shoulder or tail of each cub. This is how keepers identify the cubs, by shaving a small bit of fur on a certain part of their bodies.

While it's still too early to tell each cub's individual personality, Crosier “weighed” in: "Overall, the cubs are all quite laid back. They don’t hiss and spit very much. They are quite easy to handle." We encourage you to see for yourself in this adorable video from yesterday's weighing.