At an animal shelter in Nicaragua's capital of Managua, veterinarians are nursing months-old puma cubs back to health after they were rescued from traps set by farmers.
Separated from their mother when set upon by local ranchers, conservationists moved in to rescue the endangered big cats from near death.
Although similar in appearance to the household cat, the adorable cubs do not make ideal pets – they have razor sharp teeth and claws that act on instinct.
They will be hand fed until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild.
"This is a wild animal who could never be tamed domestically because he never loses his hunting instinct," said vet Noel Martinez. "We will give him food, de-worm him and rehabilitate him so he can be sent to a reserve where he will be in a controlled environment for one week before being completely freed."
With urban development increasingly encroaching on the natural habit of pumas, they are at risk of extinction in Central America as they move closer to urban and farm areas in search of food.
Attracting the ire of farmers looking to protect their livestock, they are often mistaken for foxes and killed.
Despite the hunting of the felines being illegal, a lucrative fur trade and private zoo owners has conservationists increasingly concerned for the future of the big cats.
3 News / Reuters