Seven cheetah cubs born at Münster Zoo in rare multiple birth, mother Alwa initially gave birth to eight

Rare arrival at Münster Zoo

A cheetah at the Allwetterzoo Münster has given birth to seven cubs in what the zoo describes as a rare multiple birth. The litter arrived on 7 July 2026 and consists of six males and one female. The cubs, who are currently in a den on the enclosure, underwent their first veterinary examinations and are reported to be in good health. Their eyes are open and they are gaining weight well.

They are all in a good weight class, have their eyes open and make a good impression. Nevertheless, it should not be overlooked that seven cubs are very rare for cheetahs and demand a lot from the mother.

Mother Alwa gave birth to eight, one did not survive

Mother Alwa had originally given birth to eight cubs, but one of the young did not survive. Zoo veterinarian Carsten Ludwig explained that in the wild, not all cubs from such a large litter would be expected to survive. Cheetahs in the wild normally develop only six teats and raise a maximum of six young, according to literature cited by the zoo. Alwa and the sire, Sambesi, are now caring for the remaining seven cubs.

A familiar pair and a new chapter

The litter is the second for Alwa and Sambesi. Their first offspring were born in September 2024 and were named Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Rosi. Those cubs were later transferred to other zoos. The zoo said that the seven new cubs will not be visible to the public for several more weeks, as they remain in the den under their mother's care. Once they are old enough, visitors can expect to see them on the cheetah enclosure.

Cheetahs under threat

Cheetahs are classified as a vulnerable species, and the zoo emphasizes that their global population is declining. The last comprehensive survey, conducted in 2021, counted 6,517 adult cheetahs worldwide. Each successful birth in captivity supports conservation efforts for the species.