Cats are adorable companions who share our daily lives, but not all species lounge on sofas. Among the wild cats that are formidable hunters, there is a particularly dangerous species.
This is the deadliest cat in the world, no less. The black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), also known as black-footed cats, excels in the art of hunting. It is capable of killing 14 prey per night, successfully catching them more than 60% of the time. The black-footed cat consumes 3,000 rodents per year.
Gaia's first potential partner died of kidney failure
This is why it is often said that this feline is the most dangerous in the world. Gaia is probably the most famous of these black-footed cats. This female was born in captivity in 2023 at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in the state of Texas.
Earlier this year, she was transferred to Utah's Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. The goal was for her to mate with the zoo's only tomcat of this species, Ryder. Sadly, Ryder died of advanced kidney failure in July.
“Its surprisingly large eyes, small demeanor and vital role in conserving its vulnerable species have made headlines around the world. Although we will miss Gaia, we are excited for her to begin this new chapter and perhaps start a family of her own,” says Hogle Zoo.
The cat is back in Texas to meet a new partner
Indeed, Gaia moved to the Cameron Park Zoo in the city of Waco, Texas. She now resides only a hundred kilometers from her birthplace. This zoo was selected because it already houses another black-footed cat. Named Smidgen, this male arrived at the zoo at the beginning of August.
The zoo teams therefore hope to welcome kittens in the coming months. It's too early to know if the two deadly felines will mate, but it's promising for the future of the species.
Indeed, the black-footed cat is a vulnerable species. It is native to southern Africa. It is found in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It is also the smallest cat in Africa. The IUCN has classified it as a vulnerable species since 2002 because the wild population does not exceed 10,000 individuals of breeding age.
Will adorable black-footed kittens be born soon?
In hopes of increasing the population of black-footed cats, several American zoos are working in collaboration with the Black-footed Cat Consortium. This ensures the genetic diversity of the species by associating breeding pairs.
The Fossil Rim Wildlife Center where Gaia comes from is currently the largest facility in North America specializing in the breeding of black-footed cats. As Cameron Park Zoo confirms, “we will have updates on the new residents to share with you soon.”
Source: Chronicle
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