Aren’t they cute?

Four mischievous new arrivals at Howletts Wild Animal Park have become the centre of attention for visitors.

Now a couple of months old, the clouded leopard cubs are venturing out to play most days.

They are the result of births to two pairs of adults. Both fathers, Nanyo, eight, and Ben, six, were born at Howletts and the females were introduced as part of a breeding programme for the endangered species.

Head of the park’s cats section, Jim Vassie, said: “Generally, breeding these animals is especially difficult in captivity but, with 23 clouded leopards, Howletts is one of the few zoos to have been successful.

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“With the steady and alarming decline in the species over the last 20 years, we are thrilled that we have been able to fulfil our ambitions.”

The smallest of the big cat family, clouded leopards are under increasing threat in their natural habitat in south east Asia, due to deforestation and hunting for use in Chinese medicines.