{
  "id": 9799646,
  "title": "Cheetah cubs at Prague Zoo are doing well after a period of strong storms and their mother’s illness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/cheetah-cubs-at-prague-zoo-are-doing-well-after-a-period-of-strong-9799646",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-25T17:16:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mongabay",
    "slug": "mongabay",
    "url": "https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/09/cheetah-cubs-at-prague-zoo-are-doing-well-after-a-period-of-strong-storms-and-their-mothers-illness/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Five cheetah cubs, born at Prague Zoo on June 18, faced a challenging start to their lives due to a period of strong storms and their mother's illness, according to a report by the Associated Press. The quintuplets, comprising four males and one female, were born in an outdoor enclosure as their mother, Daenerys, opted for this location despite the inclement weather. Despite Daenerys' inexperience, she exhibited exemplary care towards her offspring, protecting them from torrential rains by licking water from their fur to keep them dry. The curator of the zoo, Pavel Brandl, noted that the mother kept her cubs safe from the harsh weather conditions, demonstrating her resilience.\n\nIn the wild, cheetah cubs face high infant mortality rates due to predators and diseases such as pneumonia, which further complicated the situation. Moreover, Daenerys herself had contracted an intestinal infection in August, adding to the cubs' peril. However, as of the latest update on Friday, the five cubs appeared lively and healthy, according to Brandl. He acknowledged that it may take a year to ascertain their survival, emphasizing that every cub is crucial for the conservation of the species, which is critically endangered. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds between 70 and 75 mph. With fewer than 7,000 individuals remaining globally, the successful rearing of these cubs is of paramount importance to the species' survival.",
  "summary": "PRAGUE (AP) — Five cheetah cubs had to survive a weather scare and the illness of their mother after their birth at the Prague Zoo. But they are doing well now, the zoo said on Friday. The zoo said the quintuplets — four males and one female — that were born on June 18 had […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Cheetah cubs at Prague Zoo are doing well after a period of strong storms and their mother’s illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/cheetah-cubs-at-prague-zoo-are-doing-well-after-a-period-of-strong",
        "published": "2026-09-25T12:38:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}