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Kamau, The Dallas Zoo's Cheerful Cheetah Cub, Has Died From Pneumonia

Dallas Zoo
Kamau died Tuesday afternoon after a short illness.

Kamau, the Dallas Zoo’s beloved 6-month-old cheetah cub, died Tuesday afternoon from pneumonia.

Kamau and his brother, Winspear, became sick last week and were treated around the clock by veterinary staff, the zoo reports.

Winspear is recovering and in stable condition. Kamau, who was smaller, became gravely ill Tuesday. Zoo staff tried to resuscitate him.

Kamau, pronounced ka-MOWH, died at 2:15 p.m.

A necropsy indicated evidence of pneumonia.

Kamau and Winspear were buds. Kamau loved to pounce on top of his brother.

“These types of illnesses can worsen very quickly in both animals and people,” Lynn Kramer, the zoo’s vice president of animal operations and welfare, said in a news release.

Both Kamau and Winspear were vaccinated against canine and feline distemper and other respiratory illnesses, the zoo reports. Other cats at the zoo are healthy.

The cubs have a companion, a black Labrador puppy named Amani – he is not ill, zoo officials say.

The cubs were born July 8 and became fast friends with zoo visitors.

Here’s a Dallas Zoo video of the cubs:

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.