Cheetah Valley
Opened: 2001
Cheetah Valley opened as a permanent exhibit along the Zoo's African Veldt near Garden of the Senses in
2001 when two male cheetahs arrived at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium from San Diego Wild
Animal Park.
In 2004, seven new cheetahs, three female and four male, came to Cheetah Valley from their native land
of South Africa.
Cheetahs
The fastest land animals, cheetahs can reach speeds of 70 miles per
hour in seconds. Sometimes called the "greyhound of cats," the
cheetah has many specialized characteristics that contribute to their
swift hunting ability, including a flexible spine, an oversized liver, an
enlarged heart, wide nostrils and increased lung capacity.
Cheetahs are one of the most uniquely marked cats. Sometimes
mistaken for a leopard because of their tan coat with black spots,
the cheetah's distinguishing feature is its black "tear stripes," which
run from the inside corner of the eye to the mouth.
Less than 10,000 cheetahs exist in the world due to loss of habitat, poaching and vulnerability to
predators, making it an endangered species. Although they are the sleekest hunters in the plains, open
woodlands and brushlands of Africa, they are reluctant fighters.
At Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, these spotty, speedy cats are fed meat and bones but fast
twice a week, which is similar to what they would encounter in the wild. They do not drink much water
because much of their needed moisture comes from the food they eat.
Training
The cheetahs are trained using positive reinforcement, usually food, to voluntarily exhibit behaviors.
Training is an important tool in animal care, as it enables Zoo staff to provide the animals with the best
possible care. Training allows the Zoo’s Animal Care staff to develop a bond of trust and understanding
with the animals overtime and refrain from using anesthesia and other potentially stressful processes to
work with the animals.