Three little lynx met the public for the first time today, ten weeks after they were born at the Montreal Biodome.

The kittens, two males and a female, were born to a seven-year-old lynx in a private enclosure at the facility.

The kittens’ father is also housed at the Biodome, but will be separated from his litter at night as the mother could consider him a threat to the youngsters.

In the wild, lynx mate in the spring. After 8 to 10 weeks gestation, the female gives birth and keep their offspring close by for a least a year.

There are few lynx in captivity, and even fewer who have bred successfully. The Biodome expects the three youngsters will expand the genetic diversity of that pool.

Last year, one baby survived out of three born to the same mother. That lynx was moved to another facility after it was old enough to be separated from its mother.

The three new arrivals could also be relocated once they are old enough.