Siberia has recently established a sanctuary for Pallas’s cats.
Hey there, have you met the Pallas’s cat yet? This adorable feline is similar in size to a domestic cat but has striking yellow eyes and a fluffy coat of fur that will leave you in awe. Unfortunately, these cats are endangered and not well-known. Fortunately, researchers attending the Pallas’s cat international conference have set aside a 14-square-mile area to conserve and study them, according to the Siberian Times. While they may look like they belong in your home as a cute and cuddly pet, they actually reside in the rocky steppes of southern Siberia, Mongolia, and China. In their natural habitat, they spend most of their time hunting for pika and hiding out in caves.
A new sanctuary situated in the Altai Mountains’ Sailyugemsky Nature Park aims to safeguard Pallas’s cats from poachers and promote further research. These elusive creatures are poorly understood, with the latest data on this species being outdated by three or four decades, according to researcher Alexey Kuzhlekov. The number of cats residing in the new reserve is unknown, so a count is needed before any genuine connection between humans and these adorable felines can be established. Best of luck to the Pallas’s cat ambassadors in achieving their goal.