From the official website.
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2009 may be the year of our first ever sand cat kittens
Our first ever female sand cat settled in well to her new home in the Desert carnivore house last year. After potential successful matings with the lucky chosen male out of our three hopefuls, anticipations are now high for the patter of little foot pads appearing during 2009.
The sand cat is the only felid found primarily in true desert, and has a wide distribution through the deserts of northern Africa and southwest and central Asia. However, the sand cat is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Degradation of desert ecosystems is widely acknowledged as an urgent conservation problem, and could result in a decline of up to 30% in the sand cat population, caused by a declining small mammal prey base. Vulnerable arid ecosystems are being rapidly degraded by human settlements and are suffering further loss of natural habitat by the introduction of livestock. Other localized threats include the introduction of feral and domestic dogs and cats, (competition for food and also transmit diseases).
The sand cat is well adapted to arid deserts as it obtains all the water it needs from its small mammal prey base which includes rodents, birds and reptiles. Their highly sensitive ears are well adapted for hearing animals both above and below the surface of the desert as they have an enlarged auditory bulla and ear flaps, which give them their characteristic triangular shape as well as enhanced hearing. Other characteristics include foot pads which are covered with thick hair, enabling them to travel easily over moving sand and insulates them from the hot desert.
The 10 year old female (named 'Khali') and the eight year old male (named 'Kalahari') along with his two brothers can be seen in the Desert carnivore house. Only three other sand cats live in the UK (at Bristol Zoo). You can easily distinguish 'Khali' as she has a collapsed left ear caused by a haematoma which has healed well but it is unlikely the ear will return to its original shape.
After a gestation of around 65 days, 2-4 Kittens may be born early April and will stay together as a family unit until autumn. Newborn kittens weigh around 40g, eventually growing to weigh between 3-4kg.
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Some fantastic news, as if all goes well Marwell will have the first sand cat young in the UK for several years.
* * *
2009 may be the year of our first ever sand cat kittens
Our first ever female sand cat settled in well to her new home in the Desert carnivore house last year. After potential successful matings with the lucky chosen male out of our three hopefuls, anticipations are now high for the patter of little foot pads appearing during 2009.
The sand cat is the only felid found primarily in true desert, and has a wide distribution through the deserts of northern Africa and southwest and central Asia. However, the sand cat is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Degradation of desert ecosystems is widely acknowledged as an urgent conservation problem, and could result in a decline of up to 30% in the sand cat population, caused by a declining small mammal prey base. Vulnerable arid ecosystems are being rapidly degraded by human settlements and are suffering further loss of natural habitat by the introduction of livestock. Other localized threats include the introduction of feral and domestic dogs and cats, (competition for food and also transmit diseases).
The sand cat is well adapted to arid deserts as it obtains all the water it needs from its small mammal prey base which includes rodents, birds and reptiles. Their highly sensitive ears are well adapted for hearing animals both above and below the surface of the desert as they have an enlarged auditory bulla and ear flaps, which give them their characteristic triangular shape as well as enhanced hearing. Other characteristics include foot pads which are covered with thick hair, enabling them to travel easily over moving sand and insulates them from the hot desert.
The 10 year old female (named 'Khali') and the eight year old male (named 'Kalahari') along with his two brothers can be seen in the Desert carnivore house. Only three other sand cats live in the UK (at Bristol Zoo). You can easily distinguish 'Khali' as she has a collapsed left ear caused by a haematoma which has healed well but it is unlikely the ear will return to its original shape.
After a gestation of around 65 days, 2-4 Kittens may be born early April and will stay together as a family unit until autumn. Newborn kittens weigh around 40g, eventually growing to weigh between 3-4kg.
* * *
Some fantastic news, as if all goes well Marwell will have the first sand cat young in the UK for several years.
Fingers crossed for kittens at Marwell soon then, they're the most adorable little creatures, so if they do breed then do go and see them if you get the chance!
I know Twycross no longer have them which I felt was a huge shame.
