This two-week-old clouded leopard kitten is the current pride and joy of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, not just because he's so adorable, but because his species is severely endangered. Zookeepers say the male kitten, now thriving in veterinary care, is very vocal, particularly when it's time for him to eat (which is approximately every four hours)!
Clouded leopards are the smallest of the big cats, weighing just 30-50 pounds as adults and measuring about five feet in length (including their long tails). Native to Southeast Asia, the species is typically shy and reclusive. Tragically, its native range of rainforest is undergoing the world's fastest regional deforestation rates. Heavy hunting and poaching in the area make the species even more vulnerable to extinction.
Learn more about this cutie at the Lowry Park Zoo website and do not miss this video of the kitten at their Facebook page -- it's the most adorable big kitten video I've seen in ages.
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That cub honestly looks like he's smiling!
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