Photos courtesy National Zoo

Two clouded leopard cubs were born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Conservation & Research Center in Front Royal, Va. today, taking an immediate, commanding lead in the baby animal birth cute-off that’s been going on for the past couple of months (see the elephant shrew saga, the giant anteater and the close second for Top Cute, the baby gorilla, for the entire story).

Two-and-a-half year-old clouded leopard “Jao Chu” (JOW-chew) gave birth to the litter early Tuesday morning, Zoo officials said. Clouded leopards are an endangered species, and this is Jao Chu’s first litter. No clouded leopard cubs have been born at the Zoo center since 1993.

Sadly, the newborn cubs will not be on exhibit. It’s like the Zoo just sent us these photos to torture us. More photos are here.

There are two adult clouded leopards—a male named Tai and a female named Mook—on exhibit in the Asia Trail at the National Zoo.