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Asian wild cats move into Polish zoo: audio report

15.10.2024 16:00
Two stunning Asian wild cats have found a new home at Gdańsk Zoo in northern Poland.
Audio
The Pallass cat, also known as the manul, is a wild cat famous for its extraordinary ability to be invisible.
The Pallas’s cat, also known as the manul, is a wild cat famous for its extraordinary ability to be invisible.Image by Christine DAUTIN from Pixabay

The felines, known as Pallas’s cats, are famous for their meme-worthy expressions that often go viral.

Native to Central Asia, the Pallas’s cat, or manul, inhabits some of the world's harshest environments, where temperatures can plummet to minus 50 degrees Celsius.

A male Pallas’s cat arrived at the zoo in July, followed by a female companion in September.

"The male came from Budapest, while the female travelled from Berlin," said Paweł Ciesielski of Gdańsk Zoo.

"The male is more outgoing and frequently visible, while the female is more elusive, which is typical for this species," he added.

As work progresses on their new habitat, there are hopes that these new residents will compete for the Manul of the Year title in an upcoming international contest.

Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek has more.

Click on the audio player above to listen.