BALTIMORE — The Maryland Zoo welcomed two new speedy residents to its Druid Hill Park campus as two cheetah brothers arrived, the zoo said in a statement.
After a mandatory quarantine period, the pair of 4 year olds made their debut in the African Journey habitat at the zoo. The cheetahs arrived from the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari in Ashland, Neb.
VIEW GALLERY: Cheetahs make debut at Druid Hill Park
Cheetahs are the world’s fastest land animal, but they have not been able to outrun population loss. The cats are the most endangered felines in Africa, the zoo said in a statement. Cheetahs are only now found in parts of Eastern, Central, and Southwestern Africa, as well as a small part of Iran. They previously inhabited lands stretching from Africa to Asia to South Africa, to India. Due to habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade, and conflict with people and society, Cheetahs are facing potential extinction.
