Two clouded leopard kittens born in Miami zoo

SINGAPORE — Two clouded leopards kittens — a species listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature — have been born at a zoo in Miami.

The kittens, both female, were born on March 9 and are being held in an enclosure with their mother, Serai, to avoid any external stress and so that they can bond, reported CBSMiami. The cubs and their mother were recently separated for the first time a few days ago, so a neonatal examination could be conducted to determine their sex and health.

The kittens and their mothers will remain off exhibit for the next several weeks.

“Both offspring are doing well and the mother continues to be attentive and nurse them on a regular basis,” Zoo Miami was reported as saying in media reports.

The cubs’ parents were born in 2011 in other American zoos.

According to the zoo’s website, clouded leopards are medium-sized cats that are hard to spot in the wild. Known in Malaysia as the tree tiger, the cat has flexible ankle joints which can rotate backwards, enabling the cat to climb down tree trunks head first. The cat can also climb upside down along the underside of branches, and hang by just its back feet, free its front paws to grab its prey. Its diet includes birds, monkeys, wild pigs, goats, deer and porcupines.

The clouded leopard is found in Asia, from the Himalayan foothills in Nepal through mainland Southeast Asia into China It is, however under threat with its habitat fast disappearing. It is also being illegally hunted. Fewer than 10,000 adult cats are believed to remain in the wild.

Miami Zoo has put up a Facebook contest with several name options for the cubs for the public to choose.

Sources: CBSMiami, Zoo Miami Facebook, International Union for Conservation of Nature, ZooBorns