Zoo Praha's Jaguarundi Cub Follows Mom Outside the Den
October 03, 2013
There's a Juguarundi cub at Zoo Praha (Prague Zoo)! The little male, born on September 1, is perfectly cared for by his mother, Amálka. Over the past few days, the month-old cub has left the delivery kennel and started to explore his indoor habitat. He has also started to eat a little meat in addition to nursing.
Also called Eyra Cats, Jaguarundis are small wild cats living throughout Central and South America. They are diurnal, meaning that they are most active during the day. Although good climbers, they hunt primarily on the ground. These cats breed throughout the year, giving birth to a litter of one to four cubs in a safe den. Cubs are born with spots on their bellies, which disappear as the cats mature. Jaguarundis are ready to live independantly at about one year old, and tend to be solitary rather than living in social groups.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Jaguarundi as a species of Least Concern, but notes that their population is decreasing; more research may find that these cats meet the criteria of Near Threatened. The greatest concern for this creature is habitat loss due to development and agriculture.