The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is one of the big feline species kept in zoos worldwide. The wild populations are quite small and therefore the captive population make up an important part of the total population of the world. Although life in the wild is not always easy and a captive environment provides shelter and food it does not come without problems. In captivity Cheetahs become chronically ill and also develop stereotypic behaviours. Neither of these are problems in wild populations and both can be linked to stress in captivity.

Cheetahs in the wild are declining due to hunting, lack of prey, exploitation of habitats and loss of cubs to predators. Those are the main reasons to why Cheetahs are kept in captivity today for conservation. Many Cheetahs kept in captivity are seen pacing ? a behaviour that arise when the animal is prohibited from performing natural behaviours. It is believed to being attributed to a lack of stimulation in the environment where they are being held.

This BSc thesis is a part of an initial step of a collaboration between Skansen and Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) and constitutes of an inventory of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage run by KWS. Animal Orphanage takes care of orphaned and injured animals arriving from throughout Kenya. The project started out as a refuge and as a temporary place for animals in need of care and help. With time it has evolved to an establishment that resembles and functions more like an animal zoo. The aim of this inventory is to focus on how the biological needs of Congo grey parrots ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus) and Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are met, in terms of management and housing.

Geparder minskar i antal och dödligheten hos ungarna är väldigt hög. Syftet med denna litteratursstudie är att ta reda på varför gepardungar dör och vad som är de största orsakerna. Geparder är utsatta för predatorer på två sätt; rovdjur kan stjäla deras byten eller döda geparder. Därför är studien främst inriktad på vilda geparder. Anatomin skiljer sig mellan geparder och andra kattdjur eftersom de är världens snabbaste landlevande däggdjur. De föder många ungar och har en hög reproduktionsförmåga.