After 20 years of trying to increase the cheetah population, US scientists have made history with the delivery of two cubs via in vitro fertilisation (IVF), using a surrogate cheetah.

The cubs, a male and female, were born on February 19 at Columbus Zoo, Ohio , following the procedure that took place at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute back in November, 2019.

Three-year-old cheetah Izzy grew and carried the cubs using eggs harvested from six-year-old Kabibi, and sperm from a cheetah at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas.

The cheetahs were born after two failed attempts (CNN)

"The cheetah is one new success in terms of IVF but this is still extremely rare in wild species," explained reproductive biologist Pierre Comizzoli, who helped perform the procedure. "Wild species are far behind livestock and humans."

According to a statement from the zoo, Kabibi's genes were "at risk of never being passed on", as opposed to Izzy's who were deeped "less genetically valuable".

Scientists discovered two foetuses during an ultrasound a month after the procedure, and since the unnamed cubs' birth, Izzy has been nursing them.

The cubs are still waiting to be named (CNN)

"Just the fact that we were successful with embryo transfer after only the third attempt gives me hope for the future of this technique for improving cheetah management, potentially on a global scale," explained cheetah biologist, Adrienne Crosier, in a statement.