A cheetah named Alwa has given birth to seven cubs at Allwetterzoo Münster in Westphalia, Germany, in July, marking her second litter with mate Sambesi. The birth is part of a managed breeding programme for the species, which is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, making the arrival of new cubs a significant contribution to conservation efforts given the animal's vulnerable status in the wild.

The litter consists of one female and six males, following an earlier brood of five cubs the pair produced in 2024. Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals, capable of speeds up to 70-75mph and accelerating from 0 to 60mph in three seconds, aided by their long tails, flexible spines and semi-retractable claws. With only around 7,000 to 10,000 cheetahs remaining in the wild, the zoo highlighted the cubs as a welcome boost for the species.