Cheetah cubs born at National Zoo’s Front Royal Campus during shutdown

Even during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, life goes on — literally.

While the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute was closed to the public and not sharing news during the six-week-long shutdown, the animals that call the zoo home continued about their business. It turns out the cheetahs at the zoo's Front Royal campus have four new cubs to show for it.

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On Oct. 17 and 18, a litter of four new cheetah cubs was born — and they're doing well, according to the zoo.

"The cubs appear to be strong, active, vocal and eating well," the zoo said in a press release about the baby cheetahs.

Zookeepers have been keeping an eye on the cubs via the Cheetah Cub Cam live camera feed, giving