The cheetah is classified as a vulnerable species, with around 7100 specimens in the wild. Bringing those numbers up is difficult, as cheetahs cubs have about a 30% survival rate in their natural habitat. Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn, South Africa, boasts a 90% cub survival rate in their Cheetah Preservation Foundation breeding program. In October, a five-year-old cheetah at the ranch named Sansa chose to leave her royally-appointed private den to nest outside in the woods, where she gave birth to a litter of five cubs! It was just as well, as the weather was good and there was more light for the videocamera.
There are two boys, Xavier and Xion, and three girls named Xara, Xena, and Xyla. Now almost three months old, the cubs are healthy and thriving, and willing to have their picture taken. See more photographs of these five cubs at Zooborns.