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Miller Park Zoo Welcomes 5 Pallas' Cat Kittens

It's safe to say Miller Park Zoo's pair of Pallas' cats were smitten. And now there are kittens.

The Bloomington zoo announced Monday that five Pallas' cat kittens were recently born. That's a first for the zoo.

The zoo brought in a Pallas' cat from the Czech Republic in December to mate with its own cat. They apparently hit it off.

“Being able to announce the birth on International Pallas' Cat Day is extra special," Miller Park Zoo Director Jay Tetzloff said in a statement. "Births, like this one, are so important for our conservation mission and vital for the Pallas’ cat to have long-term success."

The zoo says its breeding is carefully managed to ensure as much genetic variation as possible. Importing animals, like the Czech cat, gives the population a new line of genetics. 

The Pallas' cat is native to Central Asia. It's been Near Threatened since 2002 due in part to habitat destruction. 

The Pallas’ cat exhibit is located across from the North American River Otter exhibit.

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Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
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