At the far end of the zoo is a lovely exhibit and home to a pair of sisters, Amani and Kalima. These Cheetahs were born three years ago at the San Diego Zoo in California. As a species Cheetahs represent a real success story in species survival planning. 
Once thought of as difficult to breed, I think it's safe to say that we have cracked that egg wide open. Several zoos have very successful off site Cheetah breeding programs and thanks to advances in DNA studies and the coordinating work of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and their tracking of lineage lines through comprehensive stud databases, the present stock is thriving and diversifying. The Metro Richmond Zoo alone has seen 40 + live births in the past 5 years as a result of creating a 52 acre Cheetah Breeding Center on property adjacent to the zoo in Richmond, Virginia. The Smithsonian National Zoo's Conservation Biology Institute in Leesburg Virginia just up the road (well 2 hours north!) has seen 19 successful births in the past two years and similar success is being had at dozens of zoos across the country. As a result there is something of a glut of Cheetahs in the pipeline.
Non-breeding zoos have become a critical component by providing living space for some of the animals whose DNA is less important to the diversity of the species at present. The Virginia Zoo just became one such facility and welcomed Cheetahs to their African Okango Valley when a habitat originally designed for Baboons became open. In cases like these, zoos often feature siblings of the same gender like the pair of males at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. In this way these Cheetahs become the ambassadors for their species. Amani and Kalima certain do this with all the grace and elegance that are hallmarks of these beautiful animals. Today they were to be seen on top of their shelter with visitors speculating on how it was possible for them to arrive at this elevated scenic perch. I thought that probably jumped from behind.
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