DENVER—Zoos in Denver and Battle Creek, Mich., are trading female cheetahs in hopes that both will have cubs with new mates.
The Denver Zoo said Friday it has sent a 5-year-old cheetah named Kibara (kih-BAR’-uh) to the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek in exchange for an 8-year-old cheetah named Katili (KAH’-ti-lee).
Kibara was Denver’s only female cheetah.
In Denver, Katili will be paired with a male cheetah named Barafu (BAH’-rah-foo), who is Kibara’s twin.
The Denver Zoo says the swap was done under recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure healthy populations and genetic diversity.
Cheetahs are classified as endangered by the World Conservation Union. About 10,000 cheetahs are believed to exist in the wild, and 96 are in captivity in North America.
