Reproductive life history of South African cheetahs (Acynonyx jubatus jubatus) at the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park, 1970–2005
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2006 |
Authors: |
Paula Augustus, Kelly Casavant, Natalie Troxel, Randy Rieches, Fred Bercovitch |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services |
Keywords: |
cheetah, cub survivorship, litter size, reproduction, sex ratio |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20097.abs We analyzed 35 years of data from a captive breeding program of cheetahs to determine basic reproductive life history characteristics of females. Breeding females ranged in age from 2.7–10.5 years. Sixteen females and over 13 males produced 129 cubs in 36 litters, with an average litter size of 3.6. Older females produced significantly fewer cubs per litter than younger females, but cub survivorship was comparable across female ages. Sex ratio was balanced at birth and 71% of infants survived the weaning period. Given that the reproductive output of captive cheetahs in our study is similar to that in other zoologic institutions and to cheetahs in the wild, we suggest that reproductive deficits in captive cheetahs arise from the inability of some pairs to breed, due to a lack of mating preference, rather than from a species-wide problem. Zoo Biol 0:1–8, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.