We could watch these guys play all day.

Four northern cheetah cubs have been born at Fota Wildlife Park and they’re now ready to meet their adoring public.

The northern cheetah, also known as the Saharan cheetah, is a critically endangered subspecies of cheetah that is found mainly in the Sahara desert regions of Algeria, Niger, and Mali. There are believed to be less than 250 individuals remaining in the wild, primarily due to habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

The four cubs were born on February 26th to mother Gráinne and father Sam. Gráinne is six years old and was born in Fota Wildlife Park. The cub’s father Sam was born in the Wadi Al Safa Wildlife Centre, Dubai, UAE, and came to Fota in 2017.

“I am delighted that our four new cheetah cubs are thriving.” said Head Ranger, Julien Fonteneau.

“It is lovely to see them develop and to watch them explore their leafy habitat on Cheetah Hill. The cheetahs enjoy being outside and have just started to join their mum during feeding where they love to pull and lick the food.”

To celebrate the birth of the cubs, Fota Wildlife Park is running a public contest to name them. Members of the public can vote here and each entrant will be in with a chance to win one of four Conservation annual passes to Fota Wildlife Park.

In the meantime, the best place in the Park to view the new arrivals is on Cheetah Hill.