Plzeň Zoo has recently celebrated a significant milestone by successfully breeding stinking wildcats, with the facility being the first in Czechia to achieve this feat. According to curator Kristýna Rothová, a breeding pair was established only last year, with a male brought in from the Zoo Biotropica in France and a female from the Walter Zoo in Switzerland. The animals, despite being quite young, displayed effective mating behavior, leading to the birth of four cubs, which were discovered by the zookeeper just before Christmas.

Tragically, one of the cubs did not survive, which is a common occurrence when raising large litters. During an initial four-week health check, it was confirmed that there were one male and two female cubs, all of which appeared healthy and lively. Following their eight-week mark, the zookeeper implanted microchips in the cubs, which are now thriving. This successful breeding is particularly notable as the zoo had previously housed these animals from 2007 to 2009, but efforts at breeding during that period were unsuccessful.

The implications of this achievement not only highlight the zoo's commitment to wildlife conservation and breeding programs but also may encourage further efforts in species preservation. The effective breeding of stinking wildcats could serve as a model for other zoos in similar endeavors, promoting biodiversity and educating the public about the importance of these unique species.