COAL VALLEY, Ill. (June 17, 2026) – Niabi Zoo is celebrating the birth of three Pallas’s cat kittens, marking a significant conservation milestone for the zoo and the species’ managed population in North America.

The kittens were born to Eevi and Haruto, Niabi Zoo’s Pallas’s cats, as part of the Pallas’s Cat Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative breeding program designed to help maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population of the species in human care.

The arrival is especially significant, as Niabi Zoo’s litter is one of only two Pallas’s cat litters born in the SSP this year. Together, the two litters represent the first successful births for the program in three years.

“This is an incredibly exciting moment for Niabi Zoo and for the conservation of Pallas’s cat,” said Lee Jackson, director of Niabi Zoo. “These kittens represent years of careful planning, collaboration and exceptional animal care. We are proud of our team and grateful to be part of a program that is helping safeguard the future of this remarkable species.”

Prior to this breeding season, the Pallas’s at SSP population included 49 cats at 26 facilities. With the addition of the two litters born this year, the population has grown to 57 cats, moving closer to the program’s current goal population of 65 cats. Niabi Zoo now cares for nearly 10% of the SSP population.

The successful birth also follows a challenging period for Niabi Zoo’s Pallas’s cat program. During the winter storm of 2024, the Pallas’s cat shelter and habitat were completely destroyed. Since then, Niabi Zoo staff have worked to restore and strengthen the cats’ care environment, with a focus on animal wellbeing, thoughtful habitat design and the high standards needed to support a successful birth.

“After the damage caused by the 2024 snowstorm, this birth is especially meaningful,” Jackson said. “It is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our animal care team, who remained focused on creating the right conditions for these cats to thrive.”

Pallas’s cats are known for their round pupils, fluffy appearance and famously “grumpy” expressions. Despite their thick coats and stocky build, adult Pallas’s cats are roughly the same size as domestic cats. Native to the grasslands and rocky regions of Central Asia, they are skilled hunters adapted to harsh environments.

The kittens are being closely monitored by our zoo staff as they continue to grow and develop. Eevi is bonding with her litter in their enclosure, and the kittens are expected to make their public appearance any day now!

Guests can learn more about Niabi Zoo’s Pallas’s cats and support the Zoo’s animal care and conservation programs by visiting https://www.niabizoo.com/new-pallass-cat-litter/.

To download images and a video of the kittens, please visit this link.