OMG! Sand Kitten Cuteness- new babies born in Al Ain zoo

[JCMach1]

Two sand kittens at Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort are living proof that rare species can be sustained through assisted breeding, scientists hope.

The kittens, both female, were born in captivity 46 days ago to surrogate mothers. Yesterday, they were given their first set of vaccinations.

The births were brought about using a technique developed by American scientists that may eventually be employed to boost dwindling populations of larger cats, and even those in the wild.

The first phase took place last October at the zoo, which houses the world’s largest collection of captive sand cats, an animal so reclusive that little is known about it... http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100127/NATIONAL/701269825/1042

You have to click on the link for the pics... WORTH IT THOUGH!

[KT2000]

1. Oh my - cuteness overlaod!

Those ears are precious.

[JCMach1]

2. Definitely going to visit them in a couple of weeks... the Al Ain zoo

is a really good place...

[OhioChick]

3. Adorable!

:)

[barb162]

4. I never saw those before

and yep, they're pretty cute.

[Withywindle]

5. They are ADORABLE!!

But I'm still more of a Pallas cat (Felis manul) kind of girl.

Just LOOK at these little guys! :loveya:

[JCMach1]

6. Those are cute too... although it appears they might

take a finger off in a pinch.

[Withywindle]

7. ALL cats will do that.

In a pinch, of course. Or while playing. Or if they're hungry.

[REP]

8. OMGWTFCAT!!

Those are the cutest Pallas cats I've seen!

[Withywindle]

14. They're so fat and fluffy.....

:loveya:

But they live in diverse habitat all around Central Asia, including a lot of cold places, so that explains the long fluffy fur. They're also the only cats with round pupils.

But my favorite picture is the one with the box o'kittens at the end, because the second from the top looks so opinionated and the one at the top has such a sly little eyebrow arch.

[REP]

9. Adorable!!

Cute and beautiful.

[Maine-ah]

10. never heard of a sand cat....

had to go google and learn some more. Beautiful kitties...

[Withywindle]

15. D'awww!

There are So many adorable, endangered small cats in the world

Margay (South and Central America)



Fishing Cat (Southeast Asia)



Scottish Wildcat (Scotland)



(The biggest danger to this species is actually interbreeding with domestic cats. I totally get it - if I were a domestic cat and saw THAT in my territory...you bet I'd hit it!)

Flat headed cat (Southeast Asia)



Jaguarundi (southern US, central and south America)



Geoffroy's cat (South America)



Canada lynx (North America - closely related to the Siberian Lynx, evidence that Pangaea's breakaway is very recent in human terms)



My parents see this guy creeping around in their bushes late at night once in a while - American bobcat (North America)

[TZ]

11. I think I saw pics from the Cincinnati Zoo with new Sand Kittens

recently. They have a really really good Big Cat/Wild Cat program there. Anyone who loves felines needs to visit. Its wonderful.:)

[WinkyDink]

12. I see one picture. Are there more?

[JCMach1]

13. Not yet! Have to see what I can do... has camera will travel.