I certainly hope so as well! I know there are a few known carriers in the European population but I believe the AZA specifically phased-out all known carriers in the US SSP because they viewed them the same way they view white tigers and Lions now. I don't think Virginia SP is AZA accredited, so any Cheetah breeding they do with these extremely important genetics will likely be outside the SSP unfortunately. ~Thylo
KING CHEETAH 2022 I was curious about the genetics of King Cheetah, so I tracked some of the captive population back until I reached a common ancestor; wildborn male (2635) at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre (formerly De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre) in South Africa. He was a spotted carrier of the King gene. Many spotted cheetah also descend from this line, so there is always the potential for more King Cheetah to pop up somewhere in the captive population. 1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991 These 11 King Cheetah are all descended from him. (Living King Cheetah are marked bold): National Zoo and Aquarium, Australia: 1.0 Jama 6118 (3989 x 4113) 25/05/2005 - 22/08/2008 Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Australia: 0.1 Halla 6803 (Masuka 4308 x Asali 6048) 03/10/2009 0.1 Kyan 6804 (Masuka 4308 x Asali 6048) 03/10/2009 Himeji Central Park, Japan: 0.1 Ram (Peace x Lila) 19/03/2018 Tama Zoo, Japan: 0.1 Nadeshiko (Kai x Sumire) 11/06/2011 1.0 Ibuki (Kanga x Kikyo) 10/10/2012 1.0 Fang/Fangu (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013 - 11/05/2020 0.1 Anenome (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013 Virginia Safari Park, USA: 0.1 Mona Lisa (4111 x 5699) 06/06/2009 1.0 Sully/Solomon (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019 0.1 Shani (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019 King George at Zoo Miami came from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. He is descended from a different line, though potentially shares a common wild ancestor with the other captive King Cheetah. He can be connected to the King Cheetah at TWPZ Australia and the ones in Japan, through his mother. He did not produce any offspring. 1.0 King George (Spookie x 2480) 17/10/1998 - 12/09/2014 Zoo Negara also holds a King Cheetah. I’m unsure of his linage. His mother came from Africa and was already pregnant when she arrived in Malaysia. 1.0 Bolt (unk x Tianna) 00/00/2018 This list is not comprehensive of all King Cheetah currently in captivity. I will post some more detailed info on the King cheetah in each country soon
King Cheetah in Australia National Zoo and Aquarium: Jama was born at Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre in South Africa. There were 4 cubs in his litter: 1.0 Jama (3989 x 4113) 25/05/2005 - 22/08/2008 1.0 Enigma (3989 x 4113) 25/05/2005 2 died at birth Enigma was also a King. Neither of the brothers sired any cubs. Parents: 1.0 3989 (2117 x 2480) 17/10/1998 0.1 4113 (2635 x 2775) 22/06/1999 Taronga Western Plains Zoo: In 2009 a litter of 4 cubs was born at TWPZ. Two of them were King Cheetah: 0.1 Halla (Masuka x Asali) 03-10-2009 0.1 Kyan (Masuka x Asali) 03-10-2009 1.0 Sefu (Masuka x Asali) 03-10-2009 (Mogo) 1.0 Mokomoto (Masuka x Asali) 03/10/2009-09/03/2015 Between the two sisters, they have produced 7 litters: Halla 2013: 1.0 Duma 1.0 Jamala 0.1 Leela Halla 2015: 0.1 Siri Kyan 2015: 0.1 Jalani Stillborn Kyan 2016: 3 x deceased Kyan 2016: 1.0 Obi 0.1 Zahara 0.1 Nyasa Halla 2016: 1.0 Laurence Kyan 2018: 1.0 Denzel 1.0 Bomani 1.0 Radi 0.1 Adayzay 0.1 Zola 0.1 Asha Halla and Kyan’s Lineage- Parents: 1.0 Masuka 4308 (2635 x F261 3413) 22/08/2000-16/05/2013 0.1 Asali 6048 (Jala 4298 x Malika 4125) 02/10/2004-14/09/2014 Grandparents: 1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991 0.1 F261 3413 (Spookie 2117 x 2480) 14/04/1995 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre) 1.0 Jala (2635 x FA232 2989) 29/07/2000 0.1 Malika 4125 (MA224 2774 x FA230 2796) 29/09/1999 Great Grandparents: 1.0 Wild 0.1 Wild 1.0 Spookie 2117 (Wildborn) ~01/04/1988 0.1 FA196 2480 (1274 x 2063) 17/04/1991 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre) 1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991 0.1 FA232 2989 (1274 x 2071) 10/04/1993 1.0 MA224 2774 (MA141 2157 x 2101) 30/05/1992 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre) 0.1 FA230 2796 (Wildborn) ~01/12/1991 The Australian King Cheetah sisters have been prolific, producing 15 (7.8) surviving offspring between them. All of them are spotted, however Siri at TWPZ has darker colouration than normal. Of those offspring, Leela at Darling Downs Zoo is the most likely to breed. Australia Zoo: 1.0 Laurence (Jana x Halla) 26/11/2016 Darling Downs Zoo: 0.1 Leela (Kebeni x Halla) 25/10/2013 Halls Gap Zoo: 1.0 Duma (Kebeni x Halla) 25/10/2013 1.0 Jamala (Kebeni x Halla)25/10/2013 Sydney Zoo: 1.0 Obi (Jana x Kyan) 20/10/2016 Symbio: 0.1 Adayzay (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018 0.1 Zola (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018 Taronga Western Plains Zoo: 0.1 Siri (Kebeni x Halla) 21/05/2015 0.1 Jalani (Jana x Kyan) 11/10/2015 0.1 Zahara (Jana x Kyan) 20/10/2016 0.1 Nyasa (Jana x Kyan) 20/10/2016 0.1 Asha (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018 Hamilton Zoo: 1.0 Denzel (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018 1.0 Bomani (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018 1.0 Radi (Jana x Kyan) 06/06/2018
I believe a number of King cheetah cubs bred at the Western plains zoo were exported back to South Africa
King Cheetah in Japan Four of the King Cheetah in Japan were born at Tama Zoo. Three of them have the same parents, and their mother is the grandmother of the other one. The fifth King Cheetah in Japan was born at Himeji Central Park. Her mother is the spotted sister of one of Tama’s Kings. 0.1 Nadeshiko (Kai x Sumire) 11/06/2011 1.0 Fang/Fangu (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013 - 11/05/2020 0.1 Anenome (Kai x Sumire) 06/01/2013 Parents: 1.0 Kai (Kaede x Kikyo) 05/03/2008 0.1 Sumire (3410 x 4113) 05/06/2003 Grandparents: 1.0 Kaede (3420 x 3750) 01/08/2002 0.1 Kikyo (3420 x 3635) 23/04/2003 1.0 3410 (Spookie 2117 x 2480) 14/04/1995 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre) 0.1 4113 (2635 x 2775) 22/06/1999 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre) 1.0 Ibuki (Kanga x Kikyo) 10/10/2012 Parents: 1.0 Kanga (Kleintjie x Sumire) 06/01/2009 0.1 Kikyo (3420 x 3635) 23/04/2003 Grandparents: 1.0 Kleintjie (unk x 3418) 0.1 Sumire (3410 x 4113) 05/06/2003 1.0 3420 0.1 3635 (Wild x 3630) ~01/12/1994 (Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre) 0.1 Ram (Peace x Lila) 19/03/2018 Parents: 1.0 Peace (Lufii x Nancy) 30/04/2008 0.1 Lila (Kanga x Kikyo) 14/12/2011 Grandparents: 1.0 Lufii (3420 x 3983) 17/04/2003 0.1 Nancy (Nevadah x Lettah) 19/04/1998 1.0 Kanga (Kleintjie x Sumire) 06/01/2009 0.1 Kikyo (3420 x 3635) 23/04/2003 Male 3420 was a King Cheetah. 1.0 3420 (Spookie 2117 x 2356) 27/04/1995
King Cheetah in USA There are currently 3 living King Cheetah in USA. Sully and Shani are the only highly inbred King Cheetah I’m aware of. Their parents are full siblings, and presumably they were mated for the purpose of producing Kings as their mother is a King. Virginia Safari Park: 0.1 Mona Lisa (4111 x 5699) 06/06/2009 1.0 Sully/Solomon (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019 0.1 Shani (Machozi x Savannah) 22/10/2019 Parents: 1.0 Machozi (Michelangelo x Mona Lisa) 01/09/2014 0.1 Savannah (Michelangelo x Mona Lisa) 01/09/2014 Grandparents: 1.0 Michelangelo (unk x Maggy) 20/05/2006 0.1 Mona Lisa 7828 (4111 x 5699) 06/06/2009 Great Grandparents: 1.0 unk 0.1 Maggy (Boytjie x Suzie) 18/06/2002 at Hoedspruit 1.0 4111 (2635 x 2775) 22/06/1999 0.1 5699 (3420 x 2989) Great Great Grandparents: 1.0 unk 0.1 unk 1.0 Boytjie (2385 x 2393) 03/05/1991 Hoedspruit 0.1 Suzie (Wildborn) ~01/07/1991 1.0 2635 (Wildborn) ~29/06/1991 0.1 2775 (2157 x 2101) 30/05/1992 1.0 3420 (2117 x 2356) 27/04/1995 0.1 2989 (1274 x 2071) 10/04/1993 Zoo Miami also held a King Cheetah. King George came from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, South Africa. Zoo Miami: 1.0 King George (Spookie 2117 x 2480) 17/10/1998 - 12/09/2014 Parents: 1.0 Spookie (Wildborn) ~01/04/1988 0.1 2480 (1274 x 2063) 17/04/1991 Grandparents: 1.0 Wild 0.1 Wild 1.0 1274 (644 x 814) 12/05/1981 0.1 2063 (989 x 808) 14/04/1984
It was mentioned in one of my old Zoonooz magazines that use to receive every month, sorry I don't recall what year, I believe the place in SA wanted them for further breeding.
I have been collaborating with the author of the Messybeast website. She has created a chart of king cheetah lineages for anyone who is interested