Meet Peach, the clouded leopard. The future of a species may rest on her and her siblings.

LOXAHATCHEE GROVES — She is striking, her bright red nose popping off her grey stripes and whiskers. She is tiny, the size of a plush toy on a child's bed. She is curious and friendly, a climber who can get along with a house cat.

Most of all, she is a sign of hope for the world's dwindling leopard population.

Meet Peach the clouded leopard cub, the latest cause for celebration at the Panther Ridge Conservation Center.

Peach was born in February along with three other cubs birthed in April that still haven't been named, said Sadie Ryan, the animal center's head keeper. They are the first clouded leopards — midsized cats native to Southeast Asia, the Himalayas and parts of China — to be born in the center since 2021.

Only about 5,000 mature adults in the species survive in the wild, making it endangered.

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Clouded leopards killed for their pelts and their habitat for palm oil

Clouded leopards are known for their brown-yellowish coats and backs clouded with black and brown spots, large paws for climbing, and teeth that are bigger in proportion to their skulls than any other wild cat species.

Their unique bone structure doesn’t allow them to roar or purr, so instead, they growl, hiss and chuff.

Clouded leopards usually perish due to habitat destruction, poaching and the illegal pet trade, as they are illegally hunted for their fur, teeth, bones and even their meat.

Their pelts are the most common in the illegal market and their forest habitat is suffering the world’s fastest rate of deforestation due to palm oil production, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Panther Ridge allows visitors a chance to see big cats up close

Panther Ridge Conservation Center, located along Loxahatchee's Okeechobee Boulevard, is home to 26 wild cats, including cheetahs, jaguars, fishing cats and ocelots, representing more than 10 feline species from around the world.

It participates in breeding programs that aim to preserve healthy genetic pools of the endangered species until its population in the wild recovers. It is breeding clouded leopards, jaguars, fishing cats and caracals.

The center holds reservation-only guided tours daily, offers an in-depth walkthrough with Ryan and a cheetah walk where visitors get to stroll close to the cats and take a souvenir of their fresh paw print.

Founder Judy Berens says visitors at Panther Ridge get to see and learn about the felines from up close and watch them interact with staff.

“Most of the cats are reasonably personable,” she said. “They will come out to get treats rather than just hide.”

Big cat sanctuary wants 'to inspire people to care more about them'

Berens first opened the animal center in Wellington more than 20 years ago and moved the facility in 2019 to Loxahatchee to care for more animals on more spacious grounds.

Her passion to care for wild cats started more than two decades ago. She began rescuing illegal felines kept as pets, acquired licenses to establish a center and said she grew interested in the long-term conservation of the species.

Berens believes people need to see the endangered species to care for them.

“It might not be every one of these animals, but some of them are going to strike a chord with you,” Berens said. “And then it will be something you will want to pay attention to.”

Ryan, who has worked in the center for seven years, says the tours give guests an opportunity to see the wild felines in a habitat where they feel comfortable and are eager to great staff and visitors.

"We are just trying to inspire people to care more about them," Ryan said. "When you see a cheetah walking on a leash, that experience is going to stay with you longer than if you see it 30 feet away on a zoo."

Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Panther Ridge Conservation Center welcomes four clouded leopard cubs