On the event of International Tiger Day, the Ministry of Surroundings, Forest, and Local weather Change launched a nationwide report titled Standing of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India on the Nationwide Zoological Park in New Delhi. The report marks the primary country-wide evaluation of 9 small wild cat species present in India’s tiger-bearing forests.
The report attracts on knowledge from the All-India Tiger Estimation workouts carried out in 2018 and 2022. Over 57,000 digicam lure areas had been surveyed throughout 18 states, yielding greater than 24,800 photo-captures and over 17,000 particular person detections of small wild cats between 2018 and 2022. The info allowed scientists to evaluate the distribution and occupancy of species such because the jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat, leopard cat, fishing cat, and others, providing a clearer image of their present standing and traits over time.
The jungle cat was recognized as probably the most broadly distributed small cat species, with an estimated occupancy throughout 96,275 sq. kilometres. The species was present in a variety of forest sorts and confirmed a constant presence in 46 % of the surveyed grid cells in each 2018 and 2022.
In distinction, the rusty-spotted cat, regardless of its big selection, confirmed a 21 % decline in occupancy between the 2 survey intervals. It was recorded throughout 70,075 sq. kilometres, with a stronger presence in central India, significantly in blended deciduous forests. Researchers famous its absence in areas the place it had been beforehand detected.
The leopard cat, often present in moist forests, was recorded throughout 32,800 sq. kilometres. Its vary spanned the Himalayan foothills, Northeast India, the Sundarbans, and the Western Ghats. Whereas the species maintained presence in about half of its earlier vary, native declines had been noticed in some landscapes.
Different habitat specialists confirmed extra restricted distributions. The desert cat was discovered throughout 12,500 sq. kilometres, primarily within the dry and semi-arid areas of western and central India. The fishing cat, which depends on wetland and mangrove habitats, was present in 7,575 sq. kilometres, with populations within the Terai Arc, Northeast, and coastal areas.
Three elusive species, specifically the clouded leopard, marbled cat, and Asiatic golden cat, had been primarily confined to forest patches in Northeast India. Every was recorded in lower than 4,000 sq. kilometres. The marbled cat and Asiatic golden cat weren’t detected in over 75 % of areas the place that they had been beforehand noticed, suggesting extremely fragmented or declining populations.
The report additionally examined the function of protected areas in supporting small cat species. Most confirmed greater occupancy inside protected areas, underlining the function of tiger reserves in safeguarding broader carnivore range. Nevertheless, species just like the jungle cat and rusty-spotted cat had been additionally steadily recorded outdoors protected zones.
The report recommends ongoing monitoring, focused ecological research, and the combination of small cat species into nationwide and state-level wildlife administration plans.
Banner picture: The rusty-spotted cat, generally known as the hummingbird of cats, falls within the ‘Close to Threatened’ class within the IUCN Crimson Listing. Picture by Radheshyam Bishnoi
