Tiny feline duo rescued: Leopard kittens find new home in wildlife sanctuary

In a heartwarming rescue mission, two pint-sized leopard cats, abandoned in a sugarcane plot in Phichit‘s Sam Ngam district, have been saved by officials from Protected Areas Regional Office 12, Nakhon Sawan.

The fluffy feline siblings, just a month old, were discovered by wildlife guardians, unharmed and thriving on their specially crafted milk diet. Playful and already bonding with their human rescuers, the duo, affectionately named Juk and Pia, are slated to receive round-the-clock care until they reach 12 weeks, transitioning from milk to a meatier menu.

But that’s not the end of their adventure. At five months old, the pair will be whisked away to the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Breeding Station in Uthai Thani. Here, under the watchful eyes of experts, they will hone their survival instincts in preparation for their ultimate freedom in the wild.

Pimchanok Songmongkol, a seasoned veterinarian from Protected Areas Regional Office 12, shared insights into the feline duo.

“Leopard cats cannot be pets because they are wild carnivores. These cats will become ferocious as they grow up.”

The leopard cat, a small wild cat indigenous to continental south, southeast, and East Asia, is known for its feisty nature and untamed spirit, reported The Nation.

Despite their playful antics, the leopard cats fall into the Least Concern category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2002. However, their population faces threats from habitat loss and hunting in select areas.

In related news, Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) revealed that there are 153 lions in the possession of 24 Thai nationals, highlighting the controlled status of these wild animals and the legal requirement to declare ownership.

This announcement comes amidst a high-profile investigation following the circulation of a video showing a lion being driven around Pattaya in a Bentley, which drew significant public attention.

In other wildlife news, the death of a leatherback sea turtle on a beach in Phang Nga triggered a wave of concern among wildlife officials and conservationists. The cause of death was an unfortunate entanglement in a fishing net, which was discovered when the turtle’s carcass washed ashore.