Precocious Playboys—Clouded Leopard Cubs Steal the Spotlight

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Although they may not be on exhibit quite yet, two precocious clouded leopard cubs are bringing in quite a crowd as onlookers coo at the cutest baby pictures ever sent out on the internet.

Both males, the cubs named Koshi and Senja were born earlier this summer, on June 6, at the Houston Zoo in Texas and appear to be perfect in every way possible. Active, and yet adorably coy, the two brothers became the talk of the town and the internet this morning as zoo staff released photos of the boys rough-housing and cuddling without a care in the world.

Of a rare and very unwell-documented species, the clouded leopard cubs are quite a sight to be seen by both zoo patrons and scientists alike. In nature, clouded leopards are thought to be in the mid-range for Big Cats and Small Cats in not only size, but behavior. Thought to be primarily solitary like many cat species, clouded leopards, named for their uniquely spotted coats, are supreme climbers that make their homes everywhere from the rain forests of Southeast Asia, all the way to the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal. Though known to be one of the best climbers in the feline family, clouded leopards are voracious hunters with fearsome teeth, however, as little is known about the species' natural habitat and population sizes, they are considered to be a vulnerable species.

As the species has become endangered due to habitat destruction and destructive poaching for their pelts, the two cubs are being well-guarded until they're ready to being in the public eye. At only 11 weeks, the cubs may be too young to play in the lush exhibit the Houston Zoo has planned for their debut, but they are still getting rowdy in the zoo's behind-the-scenes nursery where they're fed and pampered like feline kings.

Zoo veterinarians have separated the cubs from their parents Suksn and Tarak, a practice they say is common in all captive leopards of the species, eliminated the 10-month rearing time that cubs usually remain dependent on their mothers for. And although according to zoo veterinarians, they have a few vaccinations left to leave the nursery for their new habitat, the zoo says that they are doing everything possible to ensure the health and well-being of the clouded leopards born in captivity.

Researchers hope that further study of these cubs may lead to insights about the elusive species, and their frisky feline dispositions, however for now everyone is just happy to see that they're doing well... and awfully cute, if we might add!

For more information regarding Koshi and Senja, or ways to help donate for their care, please contact the Houston Zoo at: www.houstonzoo.org