Two cheetahs explore their new enclosure

Male cheetah brothers like Kendi and Tafari often form a bond for life called a 'coalition'.

Take a look at these two Northeast African cheetahs exploring their new enclosure for the first time.

The cubs have travelled from Yorkshire Wildlife Park to Chester Zoo as part of a conservation plan to help protect their species from extinction.

Northeast African cheetahs are one of the world's rarest big cats, with fewer than 500 thought to be left in the wild.

The two male cubs are one-year-old brothers, named Kendi and Tafari, and keepers say they are settling in well to their new home.

Keepers have said they are playful, inquisitive and confident

Dayna Thain, a Carnivore Keeper at Chester Zoo said: "The arrival of Kendi and Tafari marks a significant moment for cheetah conservation."

"It's great to see that they share such a close bond as they've been inseparable since the moment they arrived - spending much of their day side-by-side as they explore their new home together," she added.

Cheetahs are the fastest land mammal on Earth, capable of reaching speeds of up to 70mph in short bursts

Northeast African cheetah can now only found in small populations in South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia - having become virtually extinct in the countries of Somalia, Kenya and Sudan.

These last few remaining populations of wild cheetah live in protected areas, but still face threats from things like habitat loss, conflict with humans - as cheetahs can sometimes hunt farm animals - as well as the illegal wildlife trade.

The species is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Staff at the zoo say that when the brothers are older they will eventually be joined by female cheetahs in the hope that they breed and boost population numbers.