Cubs are born at any time of the year. For the first ten weeks of their life the cubs differ greatly from the the adults in appearance. They have an unspotted, silvery-white mane and coat, and a dark spotted underside. It has been suggested that these markings are a form of mimicry, as the cubs resemble the Honey Badger, a vicious animal. This mimicry makes cheetah cubs less vulnerable from attack by lions, leopards and hyaenas.
Cubs leave their mother between the ages of one and two.
Cheetahs are becoming increasingly rare, particularly with the threat from hunting for the the fur trade and for sport. Habitat destruction is also reducing numbers. The Asiatic Cheetah is now considered endangered. The ancient Egyptians used tamed Cheetahs for hunting during the Middle Ages in southern Asia. Cheetahs are not easy to breed in captivity but at Marwell we have had considerable success.