Zoo-goers can now meet newest residents
Janet and Jean, clouded leopard kittens born at the Naples Zoo, are now old enough to meet the public, and recently moved to their new exhibit.
The kittens are 10 weeks old, and are listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the auspices of the Endangered Species Act. Habitat destruction, human encroachment, and poaching have all played a part in the species' decline. In addition, the cats, which are native to Southeast Asia, are elusive, so it is impossible to determine how many animals remain in the wild.
The kittens were born to Tika and Masala, who were matched specifically to one another by the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The Naples Zoo takes part in the plan, which used the parent leopards' ancestry to determine the match, which will help diversify the genetics in the clouded leopard population in the future. Masala and Tika came to Naples from two separate facilities in 2016.
The kittens can be seen at the Lagoon Loop from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. They are also featured in the daily Seated Safari Show, which takes place at 2:30 pm. Adding to the fun, anyone named Janet or Jean will be admitted to the zoo for free during May. Officials may use banner printing to create fun and colorful decorations to welcome new animals to their home.
The kittens are 10 weeks old, and are listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the auspices of the Endangered Species Act. Habitat destruction, human encroachment, and poaching have all played a part in the species' decline. In addition, the cats, which are native to Southeast Asia, are elusive, so it is impossible to determine how many animals remain in the wild.
The kittens were born to Tika and Masala, who were matched specifically to one another by the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The Naples Zoo takes part in the plan, which used the parent leopards' ancestry to determine the match, which will help diversify the genetics in the clouded leopard population in the future. Masala and Tika came to Naples from two separate facilities in 2016.
The kittens can be seen at the Lagoon Loop from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. They are also featured in the daily Seated Safari Show, which takes place at 2:30 pm. Adding to the fun, anyone named Janet or Jean will be admitted to the zoo for free during May. Officials may use banner printing to create fun and colorful decorations to welcome new animals to their home.