Incredibly rare Margay twins born at Welsh Mountain Zoo

Keepers at the Welsh Mountain Zoo are celebrating the incredibly rare birth of Margay kitten twins.

The super cute pair were born to mum, Sonora, and dad, Maverick, who have welcomed two single kittens previously. The Margay kittens who are yet to be named, mark a significant milestone in the Welsh Mountain Zoo’s history as the first Margay twins to be born at the Zoo.

Now a healthy twelve weeks old, the twins were both sexed as female after a recent veterinary visit confirmed that the pair are both in good health. The Zoo has had huge success in breeding Margay having welcomed some 8 kittens since 2017.

Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List the Margay is under threat in the wild largely due to deforestation of its natural habitat. Due to the Margay producing litters rarely larger than one, combined with the fact that they only reproduce once every two years in the wild, it is essential that breeding programmes in managed Zoo settings exist.

Chris Mitchell, CEO of the Welsh Mountain Zoo explained: “Whilst the arrival of one Margay kitten is cause for celebration, to welcome twins is simply wonderful. Twins are rarely born to this species, in the wild or in managed Zoo settings, and their arrival took us all quite by surprise.

“The kittens are beautiful and are developing just as we would expect in terms growth and development. They are still staying close to mum and dad but are most inquisitive and slowly beginning to explore their wider surroundings.”

The Welsh Mountain Zoo supports Margay conservation efforts via fundraising for CREA (Conservation through Research, Education, Action), a non-profit organisation designed to enhance conservation through research, education and actions. The Margay Project works to gather as much information, insight and background into the habits and behaviour of one of the world’s most elusive small cats.

Margays are semi arboreal, living both on the ground and in the trees. Research has shown that at least part of their diet is made up of prey that are strictly tree dwelling, highlighting that their use of the arboreal habitat is not merely for a safe sleeping spot but that they actively hunt there.