Dec 21, 2022 - Things to Do

Cheetahs arrive at the Austin Zoo

Nicole Cobler

Two cheetahs, Amina (above) and Daya, have arrived at the Austin Zoo. Photo: Courtesy of Matt Donner/Austin Zoo

Two cheetahs have found a new home in Austin.

The big picture: The Cheetah Animal Management Program, which works to ensure the long-term survival of the species through managed propagation, approached the Austin Zoo earlier this year about taking the two female cats.

Why it matters: The Austin Zoo is a non-breeding facility but will provide care and housing for the cheetahs until space becomes available at a zoo with a breeding program.

In the future, the Austin Zoo may take in older cheetahs who are past the age of safe breeding, executive director Patti Clark tells Axios.

Details: Daya is 6 years old and Amina is 7 years old, and they arrived from the Metro Richmond Zoo.

The pair will reside in the zoo's former Bengal tiger habitat.
The white Bengal tiger now resides in a habitat in the upper zoo, said Clark.

Of note: Cheetahs live roughly 17 years in captivity.

If you go: From Nov. 1-Jan. 31, winter zoo hours run from 9:30am-4pm Monday through Friday and 9:30am-5pm on weekends.

The zoo closes early on Christmas Eve and is closed Christmas Day.

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Cheetahs arrive at the Austin Zoo

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