video transcript

Although she's cute as a button, she's not just a pretty face. This kitten and her three siblings are truly another breed of cat, especially here in Israel. Keren Or of Ramat Gan Safari Park explains. SOUNDBITE: Keren Or, Zoological Information Coordinator In Ramat Gan Safari Park, saying (English) "Sand cat is an extinct species in Israel, although in the world it's not extinct, it's nearly threatened. But here in Israel it has been extinct because it was pushed away from the sand by other mammals." The international family consists of mom Rotem from Germany, dad Sela from Poland and of course the four youngsters born in Israel. Sand cats are true desert cats that have a high mortality rate among newborns in captivity. But at three weeks these kittens are doing fine mainly thanks to Rotem. And clearly all that cat rearing works up an appetite.