These cute little creatures, with their captivating blue eyes, are playing a vital role in the efforts to conserve and safeguard their species.
The Novosibirsk Zoo in Siberia has announced on VK.com, a Russian social media network, that they have recently welcomed 16 wild kittens into their zoo. These cute newborns were separated into three litters, and their exact birth dates remain undisclosed. According to Tatyana Pevneva, the head of the International Cooperation Department at Novosibirsk Zoo, three female cats gave birth in June, with one having three kittens, another having five, and the third having eight. The Pallas’ Cats (Otocolobus manul) were born with bright blue eyes that will gradually change to green and then yellow as they grow older. The zookeepers and veterinarians are carefully monitoring the development of these adorable creatures, but their future is uncertain due to their young age.
A pair of cute kittens belonging to the Pallas’ Cat breed are currently enjoying themselves in their enclosure at Novosibirsk Zoo. The zoo has been breeding this species since 1995 and sends them to various zoos worldwide to support international and European conservation programs. The descendants of the Pallas’ Cats bred in Novosibirsk can now be found in countries like Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Great Britain.
Breeding these cats in captivity is no easy feat as they have a high mortality rate. Pallas’ Cats are typically found in rocky deserts and semi-arid regions from Central Asia to Mongolia. Unfortunately, this species is endangered due to habitat degradation and being hunted for its fur.
The Novosibirsk Zoo is currently home to a mother Pallas’s Cat and her two adorable kittens who have managed to steal the hearts of animal enthusiasts. These elusive cats can only be found in the wild in Russia with a population of just 12,000. In captivity, only 30 of them exist across various zoos in the country as of 2019. The zookeepers have observed that the young felines tend to hide from strangers, including visitors, although they occasionally venture out of their shelter. However, there is good news as the kittens are gradually becoming more confident, which increases the possibility of catching a glimpse of them soon.
