Endangered clouded leopard kittens born at Florida zoo

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - Two endangered clouded leopard kittens have been born at a Florida zoo.

The News-Press of Fort Myers reports the female kittens were born Feb. 22 at the Naples Zoo. They both weighed more than 240 grams (8.5 ounces).

A zoo statement says the kittens are bottle-fed and will be hand-reared. The statement says this has proven to be the best practice for the species and has generated the best results in terms of their health and well-being. The kittens will not be on exhibit at the zoo.

The zoo says the cats live in the forests and trees of Southeast Asia, though it’s difficult to know how many remain in the wild. The species is under significant pressure in the wild from human encroachment along with the destruction of its habitat and poaching.

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Information from: The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press, http://www.news-press.com