49.9

Many thanks for your gestures of appreciation on “Siamese Sisters”, very much appreciated!

All kittens soon display a sense of adventure and fun, but the Clouded Leopard seems to be in a league of its own, especially when there are two of them the same age with the same amount of spirit and energy! The Clouded Leopard is one of, if not the most agile and dexterous member of the cat family when it comes to manoeuvring through trees, and I don't mean at ground level, actually in trees; they've been known to run along the underside of branches and even hang off them by their back paws while catching their prey.

This innate agility already begins to bloom at a very early age, and it seems they are naturally compelled to climb anything they can get their claws into and leap at or upon any seemingly unsuspecting target, be that a sibling or a humble photographer crouching down to get a better shot! Even when they're on the ground they bounce around in ways that would make Tigger, the friend of Winnie the Pooh, green with envy.

I've yet to get my shutter speed (not to mention my reactions!) fast enough to capture some of this delightful action, but for now I'll share this one with you of one of the cubs running away from her sister from whom she just stole a lengthy piece of palm frond.

I'm pretty sure this Blossom, as she has slightly darker markings than her sister Lek, both of whom are now a week shy of their first birthday, born at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi Province, Thailand, on March 2nd 2012.

Thanks for taking an interest and wishing you all an absolutely wonderful weekend …...... whether you get to bounce around much or not ;^)

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