WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) -Three cougar kittens captured in Wyoming after their mother died are making themselves at home in North Dakota.

The young orphans, two females and a male, arrived at the Wahpeton zoo late Thursday night. They will be on exhibit with the Chahinkapa Zoo's female cougar, Sasha, when the zoo opens April 26.

Officials from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, looking to place the orphan cougars from the Jackson Hole area, had learned that the Wahpeton zoo had lost its male cougar, Charlie, to injuries.

"You want to take animals for the right reason and the ones who need places for conservation," said Chahinkapa Zoo Director Kathy Diekman.

"It was sad to lose Charlie, but we're very looking forward to this," she said. "It'll be a great exhibit."

The three cougar kittens are in the same den as Sasha, but they must be quarantined in the area for 30 days, Diekman said. She hopes Sasha will be nurturing.

"I'm hoping she'll kind of mother them," Diekman said.

Diekman and zoo foreman Tom Schmaltz estimated Friday morning that the young female cougars weigh about 20 pounds and the male about 5 pounds more. The blue-eyed kittens have full teeth and claws.

Wyoming officials have estimated the orphans are less than 6 months old and would have died if left to fend for themselves. The zoo staff said the young cougars ate around 5 pounds of meat overnight.

The Wahpeton zoo's den and exhibit can house two females and one male. Diekman said the zoo plans to place at least one of the cougar kittens with another zoo after the 2008 season.

"We would definitely keep one of the three, possibly two," she said.

The cougars are one of two types of native cats at the Chahinkapa Zoo. It also has bobcats.