Canada Lynx kittens welcomed to New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park Zoo

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford announced Wednesday that two Canada Lynx kittens have joined the zoo family.

BPZOO officials said the kittens were born on May 4 as the first successful litter for eleven-year-old female Sylvie and thirteen-year-old male Hutch.

The kittens, a male and female, remained behind the scenes with Sylvie as they developed, according to the zoo, who said they had their first evaluation by BPZOO’s veterinarian staff at eight weeks old.

“Both kittens are healthy, very curious, and great climbers,” BPZOO veterinarian Dr. Emmy Budas said. “Their personalities were on full display during the exam, with the female showing her sweet and gentle side, while her brother was full of spunk and not afraid to speak his mind.”

A parent Canada Lynx with two kittens born at Buttonwood Park Zoo on May 4, 2024. (BPZOO)

Officials said the kittens are beginning to explore their habitat, located by the bison pasture.

BPZOO offered the following information on Canada Lynx:

“Canada lynx are listed as Threatened under the United States Endangered Species Act due to lower population size and inadequate protection of habitat on Federal lands. Within the northern boreal forest regions of North America, they are listed as Least Concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature as they are more widespread and abundant. Their range coincides with that of their main prey, the snowshoe hare.”

Anyone looking for information on how to visit the kittens can check out the zoo’s website.