KOBE - Five kittens born to a Pallas's cat, widely considered to be the world's oldest living feline species, are scheduled to be shown to the public at a zoo in western Japan later this month.
According to Kobe Animal Kingdom based in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, the kittens, were given names linked to sunlight. Weighing around 120 to 180 grams shortly after their birth in May they have grown to more than 750 grams as of late June.
They are expected to go on display to the public from July 21, the zoo said.
As of June, there are only 26 Pallas's cats in facilities affiliated with the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Also known as manuls, the small felines, with a grumpy expression, are said to have existed for about 6 million years.
The Pallas's cats, mostly found in central Asia, have long fur, a flat face and low-set ears that help them peer over rocks while hiding from their prey. Since they generally live in high altitudes, they lack a natural immunity to bacteria and viruses found in lower-altitude environments.
