Dallas Zoo welcomes 2 cheetah cubs ... and puppy

[September 06, 2013]  DALLAS (AP) -- Two male cheetah cubs have joined the Dallas Zoo population. Zoo officials have marked the occasion by providing them with a puppy.

The 8-week-old feline brothers, Winspear and Kamau, were born July 8 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va.

The zoo is providing them with an 8-week-old black Labrador retriever puppy named Amani. According to a zoo statement, Amani means "peace" in Swahili.

Since Labs are easygoing in public settings and since the pup will grow with the cubs, zoo experts believe he'll provide a calming influence for the cats.

Winspear and Kamau will join the zoo's Animal Adventures outreach program to help teach the public about their highly endangered species.

[Associated Press]

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