Adorable footage of three-month-old cheetah cubs playing

Cheetah cubs face one of the toughest survival rates in the wild. For the first few weeks, their mother hides them in dense bushes to protect them from predators like lions and hyenas. But even after they leave their hiding spots, dangers remain. Only around 30% of cheetah cubs make it to adulthood… Nature is beautiful, but also unforgiving. 🌿🐆 #CheetahMom #WildlifeSurvival #SafariLife | Juan Álvarez

Last Thursday, Oct. 21, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s cheetah mom Rosalie picked a new "den" for her cubs. She moved them, one by one, to a large clump of tall grasses in her yard. The area was well-protected, and it is not uncommon for cheetah moms to move dens. Animal care staff monitored Rosalie and the cubs but did not intervene, as Rosalie has been a very attentive mother. Unfortunately, was no webcam in the grass so the Cubs’ adoring fans had stayed tuned

During the first few months of their lives, #cheetah cubs are very vulnerable to predators. In fact, the #cats spend their first six to eight weeks being moved between secluded dens by their mother, to reduce their risk of being detected by prowling predators. However, cheetah cubs do have a natural defense - a beneficial disguise. Young cubs have a thick, silvery-grey strip of fur along their backs known as a mantle. The signature coiffure is actually a mimicry defense, offering the cubs camouf

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