Houston Zoo welcomes rare ocelot twins

HOUSTON — The Houston Zoo has some exciting baby news.

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Meet Wasabi and Sriracha, two rare ocelot twins.

They were born at the zoo on May 29 to mom Genoveve and dad Jack.

The cubs got their names because of their “spicy attitudes,” the zoo said on its blog.

Wasabi usually is found with his mom while his sister Sriracha is the explorer of the family and the first to interact with new items.

They are the first set of natural-born cubs. Jack is labeled the most genetically valuable ocelot in accredited Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities, the zoo said.

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Ocelots were once abundant in South America and the U.S., but the population has declined in South America. The news is worse for the U.S. where there are only between 50 and 80 of the cats, many of which live in Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Texas., the zoo said. The loss of habitat is the reason for their dwindling numbers.

An ocelot is considered a medium-sized wildcat that, as an adult, weighs between 15 and 35 pounds. They reach between 30 and 40 inches long and have an 18-inch long tail that is ringed.

They have one feature that other cats don’t. The zoo said they can twist their ankle joints to allow them to climb down trees.

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