Rusty-spotted cat 2022 (comprehensive page)

Some more on the preferred habitat

The Rusty-spotted Cat prefers dense vegetation and rocky areas. They occupy:

  • moist and dry deciduous forest (deciduous forest: “typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally….” – Wikipedia)
  • scrub and grassland
  • agricultural areas
  • settled areas (areas where there are people)
  • forested areas as they are “highly arboreal”

They prey on:

  • frogs (one cat observed hunting frogs)
  • rodents – this may lead this cat into settled areas where rodents may be more abundant.

Some more on threats and conservation

Threats:

  • It might sound cynical to say it but the usual reasons apply, namely human population growth and accompanying activity, which translates to habitat loss and cultivated land. The Rusty-spotted Cat can and does exist in settled (human settlements) areas but how far can this go? Is this going to be transformed into modern day domestication? The best prospects for survival for this cat are probably to become domesticated as the wild cat did generally some 9,000 year ago. The nearest this seems to have got is the creation of a hybrid Rusty-spotted Cat/domestic cat, which was observed (see Wildcat Hybrids. This offspring was larger in size (hybrid vigour), had long legs and “unusual markings” on a pale ground colour.
  • Another threat is the usual body parts trade (skins).
  • Killed by farmers protecting livestock (presumed poultry etc.).
  • Killed for food.
  • Domestic trade is uncontrolled in Sri Lanka

Conservation:

There are two levels of listings under CITES:

  • In India the cat is listed in Appendix I (“..threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial”)
  • In Sri Lanka the cat is listed in Appendix II (“..lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled”)
  • Hunting is banned in India (how good is enforcement?)
  • Hunting is banned in Sri Lanka (as above)
  • There are protected areas in both India & Sri Lanka such as:
  • Yala National Park in Sri Lanka
  • Gir Forest National Park in India (also the home of the lion in India, the only place in India where the lion is found).
  • Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in India.

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