Saint Louis Zoo cheetah quintuplets make public debut

ST. LOUIS - The Saint Louis Zoo's newest animals are making their public debut this week.

The four-month-old cheetah quintuplets—Asha, Bozzie, Chirpa, Milani, and Wickett—explored their new habitat at River's Edge in the public eye Wednesday.

Their time outside will be extremely limited as they continue to adjust, the zoo noted. They are expected to spend time in the morning, between 9 and 10 a.m., out in their habitat, but no times have been guaranteed for when they will be visible.

"This is a big change for our 4-month-old cubs, so we’re taking it nice and slow," the zoo said. "The Animal Care Team has gradually introduced them to new enrichment and experiences to aid their development and prepare them for public debut."

In July, the cheetah cubs were named after Ewoks of Endor, following the "Star Wars" themed-names along their parents, Cora and Vader. They were born one day after May 4, a day famously known as “May the Fourth be with you."

“Cora’s cubs are lively as ever. They have distinct personalities and interact with each other like any siblings would—running, playing and wrestling under Cora’s close watch,” Saint Louis Zoo Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores, Julie Hartell-DeNardo, said in a release. “The cubs have approached each new enrichment with brave curiosity. We’re excited to see them explore this new habitat and for the public to meet this family for the first time."

The Saint Louis Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.