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Cheetah cubs make debut at National Zoo

By Edecio Martinez

July 24, 2012 / 2:00 PM EDT / CBS News

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC. The two cubs were hand raised after a risky cesarean section was performed in April that saved the cubs' and mother's lives, but left them in intensive care for days following the procedure. The zoo plans to name the cubs after the fastest American male and female athletes in the 100-meter dash of this summer's London Olympics.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

A cheetah keeper prepares to catch a cheetah cub as it climbs out on to a limb at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

A cheetah keeper prepares to catch a cheetah cub as it climbs out on to a limb at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Cheetah cub keeper Regina Bakely blocks a cheetah cub from climbing out on to a limb at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Three-month old cheetah cubs made their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.