Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Animal Facts

  • Genus:

    Acinonyx
  • Species:

    Acinonyx jubatus
  • Conservation
    Status:

    Vulnerable
  • Found In:

    Africa
  • Length:

    Body 110-150cm, tail 60-84cm
  • Height:

    65-95cm
  • Weight:

    20-70kg

Meet the charismatic Cheetah!

Monarto Safari Park is home to 16 Cheetahs, five males and 11 females. Each Cheetah plays an important role within the park as well as to the greater region.

In June 2012, female Kwatile was born, not as part of a litter but on her own. As singleton cubs have a low survival rate, the decision was made for our dedicated team to hand-rear her. Everything went well and Kwatile has developed into a beautiful Cheetah with a cheeky, playful personality.

Later that year Monarto Safari Park welcomed five more cubs, three females and two males. One of the female Cheetah, Kesho, remains at Monarto Safari Park.

Kesho became a mother herself in 2017, after giving birth to five incredibly cute and feisty cubs: male Akiki and females Zari, Tafara, Ayana and Imani, who have all moved to other institutions for breeding purposes. Kesho then welcomed another litter of four in May 2018, male Thumani and females Mapenzi, Kuishi and Mara. All of the females have remained at Monarto Safari Park.

Kesho welcomed two adorable cubs in February 2022. The twins, female Hani and male Absame were named after two twin cheetahs rescued by our partners at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. Absame remains at Monarto Safari Park while Hani has moved to Dubbo.

We also are home to two inquisitive adult females, Quella and Qailee. The pair were born in November 2015 in Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudshoorn, South Africa. They arrived in November 2017, bringing new vitally-needed genetics with them. These girls are very friendly and love interacting with keepers!

In March 2023 Qailee gave birth to two cubs, male cub Moyo (meaning heart in Swahili) and female Mrembo (meaning beautiful).

Qailee’s sister Quella also gave birth the singleton cub in early March 2023. Unfortunately singletons rarely survive as the female does not produce enough milk. Natural instinct dictates that the mum abandons the cub so that she can breed again. Keepers and vet staff at Monarto Safari Park stepped in to save and cross-foster the cub in an Australasian first. With guidance from the international zoo community, the cub was hand-reared until Qailee gave birth to her two cubs where the singleton cub was added with Qailee quick to adopt and feed her.

In April 2023 Kuishi gave birth to four cubs, two males names Balozi (meaning ambassador) and Mwindaji (meaning hunter) and two females named Zawadi (meaning gift) and Nyota (meaning star).

Lucky participants on our Cheetah Experience get the chance to meet Cheetah up close. These gorgeous felines raise awareness about Africa’s most endangered big cat and the challenges their wild cousins face for survival in the wild. By participating in this animal experience you can make a big difference to Cheetah conservation!

We work hard to make sure Cheetah are kept mentally and physically stimulated and provide new toys, treats and scents on a daily basis. One of their favourite toys is a lure, which enables them to use their impressive speed to catch a tasty treat as it zips across their habitat.

The Cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal. Uniquely adapted for speed, the Cheetah is capable of reaching speeds greater than 100kph in just over three seconds and at top speed their stride is seven meters long. They have excellent eyesight which they use to scan their environment for prey.

Females live alone except for when they’re raising cubs, while males form a coalition with a sibling or unrelated male and stay together for life.

The Cheetah is Africa’s most endangered big cat with an estimated 6,700 cats remaining in the wild of eastern and south-western Africa. The problem, as with many other species fighting extinction, is complex and multifaceted, but can be attributed to issues such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and the illegal wildlife trade.

Love Cheetah? Join the coalition and ensure Cheetah stay a pounce ahead of extinction! There are many ways you can help support these beautiful cats. 

Get Involved

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About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction.

Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging.

We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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