biostudies-literatureUnknownBarr SThis research was supported by the Royal Veterinary College, University of London.Understanding the factors influencing the likelihood of breeding success is essential to the sustainable management of ex situ populations. Using keeper questionnaires and studbook data, we investigate maternal success in Southern Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in relation to life history and husbandry factors. Maternal success was measured using five maternal success indicators: (i) overall litter size; (ii) proportion of liveborn cubs in a litter; (iii) proportion of liveborn cubs raised by their mother surviving the 6-week neonatal stage; (iv) proportion of liveborn cubs raised by their mother surviving to 12 months; and (v) absence of maternal neglect. Cheetahs rep the feeding of ruminant meat and carcasses to cheetahs was found to be significantly related to a larger average littZoo biologyhttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12335232biostudies-literatureWhat Makes a Mother? Investigating Maternal Success in Ex Situ Cheetahs.PMC12335232Diez-Leon MVersteege LChang YMBarr SfalseWhat Makes a Mother? Investigating Maternal Success in Ex Situ Cheetahs.Understanding the factors influencing the likelihood of breeding success is essential to the sustainable management of ex situ populations. Using keeper questionnaires and studbook data, we investigate maternal success in Southern Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in relation to life history and husbandry factors. Maternal success was measured using five maternal success indicators: (i) overall litter size; (ii) proportion of liveborn cubs in a litter; (iii) proportion of liveborn cubs raised by their mother surviving the 6-week neonatal stage; (iv) proportion of liveborn cubs raised by their mother surviving to 12 months; and (v) absence of maternal neglect. Cheetahs rep the feeding of ruminant meat and carcasses to cheetahs was found to be significantly related to a larger average litt2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Apr2026-04-15T19:10:01.086Z2026-04-07T14:01:08.849ZS-EPMC123352324022320110.1002/zoo.21894