Four rare felines dubbed the ‘world’s fluffiest cats’ have just arrived in the UK from Krakow Zoo, Poland.
Native to Southern Siberia, Central Asia and China, conservations hope to save the cats from extinction with the arrival of the four brothers.
Sadly, there’s estimated to be just 15,000 remaining and their numbers are dwindling quickly thanks to habitat loss, being hunted for their fur, and mining.
Tim Rowlands, curator of mammals at Chester Zoo, said: “These cats are very poorly known, declining and, sadly, face an uncertain future.”
The animals known as Pallas’s cats are currently under threat, being described as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Mike Jordan, collections director at Chester Zoo, said: “The arrival of this new quartet at Chester is part of the endangered species breeding programme designed to be an insurance safety net in the face of continuing decline.
“Zoos, field biologists and scientists are working together to help these wonderful animals through conservation breeding, research, education, fundraising and possible reintroduction to the wild in the long term.”
More info: www.chesterzoo.org
