‘Unforgettable’ cheetah — first in world to give birth using IVF — dies at Ohio zoo
A cheetah that made history as the first of the species to give birth to cubs through in vitro fertilization (IVF) died at an Ohio zoo.
She’s remembered as an “unforgettable” cheetah for her personality and contributions to history.
Isabelle, also known as “Izzy,” arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2017 as the “leader” of her two sisters, Luciana and Ophelia. She eventually proved to be one of the fastest cheetahs in the exhibit, the zoo said in a Sept. 16 Facebook post.
She was recently diagnosed with liver disease but did not respond to treatment. Izzy died “surrounded by the people who loved her so much,” the zoo said.
“Izzy’s legacy is one of inspiration and hope, contributing to the survival of cheetahs worldwide and advancing conservation efforts,” the zoo said in the post. “Her remarkable spirit and impact will forever be a part of our hearts and her species’ future.”
In 2019, scientists planted nine embryos into Izzy and six embryos into her sister, Ophelia, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
One month later, an ultrasound showed Izzy was pregnant with two cubs, but Ophelia was not, the Smithsonian said.
On Feb. 19, 2020, Izzy made a breakthrough in history when she gave birth to two cubs still at the zoo today, Dave and Adrienne, according to the zoo.
“For me, the birth of these IVF cubs is a significant breakthrough for cheetah reproduction, but the implications are enormous,” Pierre Comizzoli, a reproductive biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and one of the scientists who performed the embryo transfer, said in a 2020 news release.
Additionally, Izzy’s cheetah milk was collected for the Milk Repository at the Smithsonian for the first time in history, the zoo said.
“This huge leap forward in science has opened new doors for the conservation of cheetahs and their future as a species…all thanks to her,” the zoo said.
This story was originally published September 17, 2024 at 2:03 PM with the headline "‘Unforgettable’ cheetah — first in world to give birth using IVF — dies at Ohio zoo."
