Studying the reproduction and reproductive behavior of cheetahs has been an ongoing, long-term project, and it got its start in 1970 before the Wild Animal Park was open to the public. Dr. Lynn Griner, then pathologist and director of the Society's Health Department, wrote about the start of a research study on the reproductive behavior of cheetahs in ZOONOOZ, saying that 10 cheetahs had been obtained from South Africa and were established in 2 separate, 5-acre enclosures. One goal was to study the behavior in groups with different sex ratios, so one group had three males and two females, while the other had two males and three females. It was the beginning of what is now 45 years of scientific study that has been invaluable in the conservation of these unique cats.