Fota has been to the fore in the conservation of cheetahs with over 240 animals born at the park since it first opened in 1983. It’s a long way from the Serengeti but Fota Wildlife Park’s two new cheetah cubs are sure to feel at home after the Cork public gave them Swahili names. In a public vote, the two cubs, born in November, were named Nia, meaning “purpose” in Swahili, and Nuru, meaning “light”. Acting lead ranger John Leahy said: “We were thrilled with the level of engagement from the public in helping us name these cubs. The names were selected to honour the cheetahs’ African heritage.”Fota has been to the fore in the conservation of cheetahs with over 240 animals born at the park since it first opened in 1983.

Source: The Irish Times April 01, 2026 17:48 UTC