Daursky Nature Reserve, Russia—A Russian farmer stumbled upon a litter of four helpless kittens in his barn, their eyes still shut and their mother nowhere in sight. But these were no ordinary house cats—they turned out to be Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul), a rare and elusive wild feline native to Central Asia.
An Unusual Discovery
After finding the kittens abandoned, the farmer contacted the Daursky Nature Reserve for assistance. Wildlife experts quickly identified the tiny felines as Pallas’s cats, a protected species known for their expressive faces, stocky builds, and dense fur adapted to harsh climates.
Surrogate Mothers Step In
With the kittens too young to survive on their own, rescuers introduced them to two domestic cats at the sanctuary, hoping they would accept the orphans as their own. The plan worked—the foster mothers nursed and cared for the wild cubs as if they were their own.
Rehabilitation and Release
Pallas’s cats, though similar in size to domestic cats, have distinct features—round pupils, shorter legs, and a fiercely independent nature. After months of care, the four felines were strong enough to return to the wild.
“The goal was always to reintroduce them to their natural habitat,” a reserve representative said. The cats were successfully released and are now thriving in the wild.
About Pallas’s Cats
Also called manuls, these small wildcats grow up to 60 cm (24 inches) long and weigh around 6 pounds. They are classified as near-threatened due to habitat loss and poaching, making this rescue a rare and heartening success story.
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