Zoo Miami cheetah on the mend after fracturing leg
MIAMI - A cheetah at Zoo Miami is on the mend after he fractured one of his legs.
According to the zoo, Winston, a juvenile male, injured his left rear leg while running in his habitat.
Staff noticed the injury on Saturday, July 27, and he was immediately transported to the zoo's animal hospital to determine its severity. The leg was immobilized and a cast was put on. The following Wednesday, Winston had surgery to fix the fracture. It involved attaching two metal plates to repair and stabilize the area.
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, the cast was removed so that the care team could check on the surgical site. They determined the healing was progressing normally.
"Initial indications are that the fracture is healing well, and the staff will continue to closely monitor it for the next several weeks with regular exams until it is deemed to be fully healed," the zoo said in a statement.
Winston was then fitted with another cast and returned to his recovery enclosure.
Zoo officials estimate the healing process will take another six to eight weeks.
Winston was born at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, on May 9 last year. His full name is Winston Eugene Portland III, a tribute to the cities that played a role in his life as he traveled through Oregon during his trip to Miami. He was welcomed at Zoo Miami on June 14, 2023.
Cheetahs are considered to be Africa's most endangered big cat with only about 7,000 remaining in the wild.
