Prague Zoo Cheetah Quintuplets Survive Storms and Maternal Illness
Five cheetah cubs born at Prague Zoo in June 2026 have survived severe weather and their mother's illness, though curators warn that survival is not guaranteed for another year. The quintuplets, consisting of four males and one female, were born to Daenerys, a first-time mother who arrived from France in poor condition. Despite facing torrential rains shortly after birth and an intestinal infection in August, Daenerys kept the cubs dry by licking their fur. The zoo reported that all five appear healthy as of September 25, 2026, but curator Pavel Brandl noted that the critical survival period extends up to a year. This success is significant for conservation efforts, as wild cheetah populations have declined to fewer than 7,000, and European zoo populations have dropped by 25% since 2020.