A total of 15 mountain lion kittens were left behind when their mothers were killed during the 2007 mountain lion hunting season.

The seven of those that were considered too young to survive on their own were rescued by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks.

One kitten had to be euthanized while being held at South Dakota State University, but six others were placed in zoos throughout the country.

There's Brady and Eli, the siblings delivered to the Phoenix Zoo in January, just before the Super Bowl. Named in a contest after NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Eli Manning, the cats have fit in well at the zoo.

"They're very comfortable on their exhibit," said spokeswoman Aimee Yamamori. "They spend a lot of time up on the cliff of the exhibit face, basking in the sun."

Meanwhile, former South Dakota cats Pecos, Acala and Nocona have found a home at the Abilene Zoo in Abilene, Texas, where they will be the centerpiece of an exhibit showcasing the state's various native species, according to zoo director Bill Baker.

Pecos, a male, tends to be independent, but his sisters are hard to keep apart. Nocona usually follows Acala, the cat Baker calls the "brave" and "dominant" female.

"They're pretty much inseparable," he said, adding that the two usually spend the evenings together as well. "They also tend to pile up together and sleep."

He said all three cats, which arrived at the zoo in January at 3 months old, seem to be succeeding in their new environment.

"They're doing extremely well," he said. "They've really adapted to their surroundings."

And Dakota, a 7-month-old male cougar who ended up at the Denver Zoo, is also adjusting, according to spokeswoman Ana Bowie. Dakota came to the zoo in February and spends his time in a large outdoor exhibit with a rock-climbing structure, logs, a cave and other structures.

Dakota was paired with another orphaned cat from Washington state named Cassi.

"The two were put together instantly when we got them," he said. "She was the typical little spitfire that took it to him even though she was half the size of him. Then they got things figured out, and they've been inseparable since."

All three zoo representatives said the zoos were grateful to the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks for giving them a chance to acquire the cats.