Australian shepherd takes newborn cheetah cubs into its care
After the recent death of their mother made orphans out of a group of newborn cheetah cubs, a nursery dog has stepped in for assistance.
The zoo's nursery staffers have kept a watchful eye on the premature cubs, with regular bottle feedings, weight moderating and quality time spent with Blakely, and Australian shepherd who lives at the nursery.
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Blakely's been tasked with allowing the cubs to climb on him, and to serve as a "teacher and role model" for the animals. Previously, he trained a cheetah cub the difference between gentle and forceful biting.
According to a release from the Cincinnati Zoo, Willow the cheetah delivered her cubs via C-section on March 8, and passed away shortly after.
"Cheetahs are a fragile species and this difficult birth proved to be too much for her to pull through" Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo said in a press release.
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