Umusa, a two-year-old female cheetah, was part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP). After a devastating injury, her left rear leg was amputated. Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary agreed to take in Umusa. She is their second cheetah, after Babs who arrived in 2022.
Housing too near big cats causes stress to cheetahs, so Safe Haven prepared Umusa’s new habitat, including a heated den and mature trees for privacy, in the small animal section far away and visually separated from the big cats.
Since arriving, Umusa has become more comfortable around staff, no longer running away when someone approaches her habitat, and is now going up on the lower level of her platform. Her favorite toy is boxes.
Tigers in America was happy to provide the funding for transport for Umusa.