The Berlin Zoo is celebrating the first birth of Rusty-Spotted
Cats in its 168-year history. Rusty-Spotted Cats are the world's
smallest wild cats, weighing only 2.0 to 3.5 lb (0.9 to 1.6 kg)
as adults. The two kittens were born on August 5, and have only
recently begun to leave their den to explore their exhibit.
Playful, clumsy, and a little awkward, the two female youngsters
are a delight to zoo guests. At birth, kittens typically weigh
just 2.0-2.7 ounces (60-77 g). Native only to Sri Lanka and
India, these diminuitive cats are classified as Vulnerable due
to habitat loss and the conversion of wild lands to farms.
Rusty-Spotted Cats prefer dense forests and grasslands, emerging
at night to hunt for rodents, birds, and lizards. Little is
known about these secretive cats, and few zoos display this
species, making these two kitttens especially important for the
captive population. Photo Credits: Berlin Zoo