Jungle Cat Research Articles

INVENTARISASI VEGETASI KUNCI YANG MENDUKUNG KEBERADAAN SATWA DI BLOK PEMANFAATAN TAMAN BURU MASIGIT KAREUMBI

Taman Buru Masigit Kareumbi is a conservation forest area serving as a habitat for various wildlife species in West Java. This area is dedicated to regulated hunting to manage the populations of Timor deer, muntjac, wild dogs, leopards, jungle cats, wild chickens, slow lorises, binturongs, monkeys, langurs, and hornbills. The presence of these species indicates the need for conservation efforts in TB Masigit Kareumbi to maintain the biodiversity of its flora and fauna and preserve the ecological functions of the forest. Research methods included a vegetation survey conducted from May to August 2023 across seven trails within the Utilization Block of TB Masigit Kareumbi. The study identified various vegetation types along these seven different trails, which play a crucial role as habitat and food sources for other game species. These include: rasamala trees, saint trees, puspa trees, are trees, kendang trees, and grassland vegetation such as alang-alang. The potential game species supported by these types of vegetation are: primates and birds that inhabit and forage on rasamala, puspa, and saninten trees; civets that feed on aren trees; porcupines that forage on kondang trees; and alang-alang grass which provides food for deer and habitat for reptiles. This study demonstrates that the Utilization Block of TB Masigit Kareumbi is a forest area with a plant species composition that continues supporting wildlife's survival and presence. Thus, the updated information from this research will assist the managers of TB Masigit Kareumbi in maintaining the balance and preservation of the existing vegetation species.

A Melanistic Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) in the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India

A Melanistic Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) in the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India

Oesophageal obstruction by trichobezoars in rescued jungle cat (Felis chaus)

AbstractOesophageal obstruction due to hairballs in cats is very rare. Excessive grooming behaviour in cats due to skin infection can lead to impaction in the digestive tract, resulting in deprivation of food and water and ultimately death. This report described a case of a rescued jungle cat showing signs of marked dehydration after death. On postmortem examination, a blockade of hairballs was observed in the oesophagus. Further examination of hair revealed that the hair was from the same species, not the prey species. This suggests that the over‐grooming behaviour of cats can lead to the over‐ingestion of hair, which might cause a blockage in the digestive tract, leading to death. The rescue centres should be well aware and prepared to diagnose such problems and manage the case accordingly for effective treatment of rescued animals.

Prey selection by leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) in the mid-hill region of Nepal.

Information on prey selection and the diet of the leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is essential for leopard conservation. We conducted an investigation into the prey species and the proportion of each species in the leopard's diet in a human-dominated mid-hill region of Nepal. The analysis of 96 leopard scats collected between August 2020 and March 2021 revealed that leopards consumed 15 prey species, including small- and medium-sized mammals and livestock. In addition to these prey species, we also found plastic materials, bird feathers, and some unidentified items in the leopard scats. Wild ungulates (such as barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak and wild boar, Sus scrofa) constituted only 10% of the biomass in the scats, while livestock contributed 27%, and other wild prey contributed 50%. Among all species, domestic goats had the highest relative biomass in the scats, followed by the jungle cat (Felis chaus), domestic dog (Canis familiaris), and large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha). Similarly, the Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis) had the highest proportion of relative individuals present in the scat samples, followed by the jungle cat and the large Indian civet. A lower proportion of biomass from wild ungulates in the leopard's diet and a higher dependency of the leopard on domestic prey and other wild prey indicate a shortage of medium-sized wild prey, such as barking deer and wild boar, in leopard habitats. Therefore, the conservation of wild prey species, especially medium-sized prey, is crucial for reducing the leopard's dependence on livestock and mitigating human-leopard conflicts in the future.

Occurrence and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle cats and leopard cats in Parsa‒Koshi Complex, Nepal

Co-occurrence and spatial and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle and leopard cats are influenced by habitat preferences, and interspecific competition. Understanding these factors influence is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. We conducted a camera survey in Parsa‒Koshi Complex (PKC), Nepal during December 2022–March 2023 to investigate factors influencing occupancy and spatial and temporal overlap between jungle cats (Felis chaus) and leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis). The mean detection probability (t = 0.664, p = 0.507) did not differ between jungle cats (p = 0.500 ± 0.289) and leopard cats (p = 0.501 ± 0.288); however, occupancy (t = 31.008, p < 0.001) was greater for jungle cats (ψ = 0.247 ± 0.020) than leopard cats (ψ = 0.178 ± 0.019). Jungle cats and leopard cats were positively associated with large predators, and jungle cats were positively associated with human presence and negatively associated with canopy cover. We observed high diel overlap between leopard cats and jungle cats (Dhat1 = 0.802, norm0CI: 0.720–0.884), with both species largely nocturnal. Co-existence of jungle cats and leopard cats in PKC appears to be facilitated by spatial segregation. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex ecological dynamics and interactions between sympatric jungle and leopard cats.

Molecular Characterization of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei from Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) in North of Iran.

The aim of this study is to conduct a molecular characterization of Spirometra tapeworm from jungle cat (Felis chaus) in Guilan Province, north of Iran using DNA sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) and 12S rDNA sequences. Morphological features of the adult tapeworm of Spirometra were evaluated using specific staining and light microscopy. The molecular characterization was performed using partial Cox1 and 12S rDNA regions. Genetic diversity was calculated and phylogenetic trees of the obtained sequences were constructed. Morphological features were compatible with previous description of adult Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. The Cox1 sequence of the specimen showed 100% similarity with S. erinaceieuropaei sequences in GenBank from Korea, China and Iran. Also, the 12S rDNA sequence revealed 99.7% similarity with S. erinaceieuropaei isolates from China and Japan. Intra-species variation within isolates of S. erinaceieuropaei was 0-1.4% and 0-4.6% for Cox1 and 12S rDNA genes, respectively. This is the first report of molecular characterization of S. erinaceieuropaei in jungle cat, F. chaus in Iran. Jungle cat probably plays a major role as reservoir host in maintaining of this parasite in this area with favorable climate condition. Needs for further assessment on the role of appropriate hosts, especially intermediate/paratenic hosts as well as the potential risk of human infectivity with sparganosis is emphasized.

Lack of detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife from Kerala, India in 2020-21.

Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 into a variety of wild and domestic animals has been an ongoing feature of the human pandemic. The establishment of a new reservoir in white-tailed deer in North America and increasing divergence of the viruses circulating in them from those circulating in the human population has highlighted the ongoing risk this poses for global health. Some parts of the world have seen more intensive monitoring of wildlife species for SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses but there are still very large gaps in geographical and species-specific information. This paper reports negative results for SARS-CoV-2 PCR based testing using a pan coronavirus end point RDRP PCR and a Sarbecovirus specific E gene qPCR on lung and or gut tissue from wildlife from the Indian State of Kerala. These animals included: 121 Rhinolophus rouxii (Rufous Horsehoe Bat), six Rhinolophus bedommei (Lesser Woolly Horseshoe Bat), 15 Rossettus leschenaultii (Fulvous Fruit Bat), 47 Macaca radiata (Bonnet macaques), 35 Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Common Palm Civet), five Viverricula indica (Small Indian Civet), four Herpestes edwardsii (Common Mongoose), ten Panthera tigris (Bengal Tiger), eight Panthera pardus fusca (Indian Leopard), four Prionailurus bengalensis (Leopard cats), two Felis chaus (Jungle cats), two Cuon alpinus (Wild dogs) and one Melursus ursinus (sloth bear).

Pyometra in a jungle cat: Necropsy and histopathology findings

Pyometra in a jungle cat: Necropsy and histopathology findings

Severe bronchiectasis resulting from chronic bacterial bronchitis and bronchopneumonia in a jungle cat.

Bronchiectasis is irreversible bronchial dilation that can be congenital or acquired secondary to chronic airway obstruction. Feline bronchiectasis is rare and, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously in a non-domestic felid. An ~10-y-old female jungle cat (Felis chaus) was presented for evaluation of an abdominal mass and suspected pulmonary metastasis. The animal died during exploratory laparotomy and was submitted for postmortem examination. Gross examination revealed consolidation of the left caudal lung lobe and hila of the cranial lung lobes. Elsewhere in the lungs were several pale-yellow pleural foci of endogenous lipid pneumonia. On cut section, there was severe distension of bronchi with abundant white mucoid fluid. The remaining lung lobes were multifocally expanded by marginal emphysema. Histologically, ectatic bronchi, bronchioles, and fewer alveoli contained degenerate neutrophils, fibrin, and mucin (suppurative bronchopneumonia) with rare gram-negative bacteria. Aerobic culture yielded low growth of Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli. There was chronic bronchitis, marked by moderate bronchial gland hyperplasia, lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, and lymphoid hyperplasia. The palpated abdominal mass was a uterine endometrial polyp, which was considered an incidental, but novel, finding. Chronic bronchitis and bronchopneumonia should be considered as a cause of bronchiectasis and a differential diagnosis for respiratory disease in non-domestic felids.

A Preliminary Study on Putative Chemosignals in the Urinary Sample of Subadult Male Jungle Cat, Felis chaus (Schreber, 1777)

Jungle cat, Felis chaus is a lesser-known cat species of the Indian Subcontinent residing in diverse range of environments, but marked mostly in scrubs, grasslands and marshes. Like other Felines, Jungle cats have also been demonstrated to mark territory with urine spray, neck rub, chin rub, and cheek rub. This brief study outlines the preliminary findings of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from the urine sample of subadult male Jungle cat. Identification of 2,5-dimethyl Pyrazine from the urine of the cat, makes it distinct from other related cat species. Incidentally, this chemical has been found to be the putative chemo-signal in the urine of maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus. Molecular docking of volatiles shows the binding regions of the odorant with vomeronasal receptor.

Molecular identification and Phylogenetic-Tree Analysis of Hard Ticks from wild and domestic cat Felidae in Iraq

A total of 13 samples of domestic cat Felis cattus (Linnaeus, 1758 ) and 9 samples of wild cat Felis chaus furax (de Winton, 1898) of the Felidae Family were trapped and examined to detect the hard ticks. The areas of the collection were: Baghdad, Al-Rashidiya, Tharthar, Nahrawan, AL-Mahmoudiya (middle of Iraq) and AL-Haretha (south of Iraq), Mosul (north of Iraq). The results of the current study revealed that four species belong to two genera of hard ticks: Haemaphysalis sp. (Koch, 1844), Rhipicephalus turanicus (Morel, 1969), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Neumann, 1904) and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Santos, 1955). The rates and the density of infestation were discussed. The current study aimed to clarify the infestation difference between domestic and wild cats with hard ticks (3, 14.88) because domestic cats enjoy human attention, as they live close to him. The current study identified the Rhipicephalus appendiculatus for the first time in Iraq from domestic cat Felis cattus. Keywords: Felidae, Haemaphysalis, Ixodidae, Rhipicephalus, wild cat.

Assemblage, relative abundance and activity pattern of wild mammals in the human-dominated landscape of Vansda taluka, Gujarat, India

Abstract Conservation of mammals in human-dominated landscapes requires essential information on their ecological aspects. We used camera traps to assess the wild mammal assemblage, their relative abundance, and activity patterns in the human-dominated landscape of Vansda taluka, Gujarat, India. We deployed 80 camera traps in square grids of 2 km2 resulting in an area coverage of 160 km2. To assess the mammal assemblage, relative abundance of species, and activity pattern, respectively, we used a count of species, relative abundance index (RAI), and circular statistics. We captured 13 mammals, including the wild pig, Indian hare, leopard, rhesus macaque, common grey mongoose, small Indian civet, common palm civet, Indian crested porcupine, hanuman langur, chital, barking deer, striped hyena, and jungle cat. The wild pig was the most abundant (RAI = 10.29), while the jungle cat was the least abundant (RAI = 0.04) species. Hanuman langur, rhesus macaque, and chital showed diurnal activity, while striped hyena, barking deer, small Indian civet, common palm civet, and Indian crested porcupine showed nocturnal activity. Leopard, wild pig, common grey mongoose, and Indian hare showed cathemeral activity pattern. The present study serves as a baseline for future studies and help formulate conservation strategies for wild mammals in the study area.

A review of caracal and jungle cat diets across their geographical ranges during 1842-2021.

Co-occurring carnivore species that are phylogenetically related or of similar size, morphology, and ecological needs often reduce competition by partitioning shared resources through temporal, spatial, and dietary niche segregation via behavioral adaptations. Caracals (Caracal caracal) and jungle cats (Felis chaus) co-occur in portions of their geographical ranges and are expected to display resource segregation in these ranges. We compiled scat, stomach content, and prey remains found data from published and unpublished sources to summarize information on the diets of caracals and jungle cats across their geographical ranges during 1842-2021. We obtained 63 sources from 26 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in which caracal diet included 151 species while jungle cat diet included 61 species. We found that caracals and jungle cats did not exhibit dietary niche partitioning and had greater dietary similarities in areas of range overlap. We also found that caracals consumed more diverse prey species including prey with greater average body mass compared to jungle cats. Our results suggest that greater prey diversity in areas of range overlap, caracal predation on wide range of prey, and opportunistic feeding behavior that facilitates consumption of more diverse prey species compared to jungle cats, may facilitate co-occurrence between these two felid species.

Vertebrate road kills on State Highway 26 in Khandwa Forest Division, central India

The road network is spreading rapidly in human dominated as well as forested areas in India. Roads passing through forested areas are known to negatively impact wildlife populations by contributing to wildlife-road kills besides causing habitat fragmentation, soil erosion, and disruption of gene flow. This paper documents encounters of wildlife road kills on the State Highway 26 (SH 26) passing through the forested area of Khandwa Territorial Forests in central India. Between October 2015 and June 2017 and from November 2021 to June 2022 we collected opportunistic data on wildlife mortalities on SH 26. We recorded 61 wildlife mortalities on a stretch of 34 km of SH 26. Of the road kills encountered, 71% were birds, 21% were mammals, and 8% were herpetofauna. Highest among bird kills were members of nightjars (Caprimulgidae) (26%) and owls (Strigidae) (23%). Among owls, we recorded two road kills of the endangered Forest Owlet Athene blewitti and individuals of five other owl species. Among other taxa, road-hits of Jungle Cat, Indian Palm Civet, Golden Jackal, Central Indian Langur, and a few snakes were recorded. Most bird kills on the road were recorded in February while the highest number of mammal and herpetofauna kills were recorded in the month of November. We report that the land use around the road and species trait contribute to vulnerability of a species to road-hit. Based on the frequency of road kills, we have identified seven hotspots of road kills on SH 26. Since road construction is one of the major mandates of the Government in India, it is suggested to carry out systematic environment impact assessment on existing and proposed roads to understand the patterns of spatio-temporal incidents of road kills. Planting of tall trees and installation of speed bumps and signboards to alert drivers should be planned at the initial stage of road construction. If appropriate mitigation measures to prevent wildlife mortalities are incorporated while the road is being constructed, it may be possible to bridge the gap between development and conservation.

Wild Felid Diversity, Space Use and Activity Patterns in the Eastern Himalaya, India

Species with similar resource requirements cannot coexist for long. To facilitate co-existence, carnivores adapt different strategies to partition the available resources in space and time. In high-altitude ecosystems with limited resources the operation becomes complex. We assessed species diversity and spatio-temporal resource partitioning among felid species inhabiting the intricate habitats of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR), Eastern Himalaya. We used systematic camera trap surveys along with abundance and overlap indices to generate information on their space use and activity patterns. We recorded six species of felids belonging to five genera, including four species of global conservation importance. The differential use of space by felids was observed with respect to the habitat types determined by sharp altitudinal gradients with varied levels of spatial and altitudinal overlap. Maximum overlap was observed among Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii, jungle cat Felis chaus and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa. The felids had distinct activity profiles from one other, particularly between golden cat and leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis. Pianka’s index also provided weak evidence for temporal overlap among species. The overall results indicate that habitat heterogeneity facilitates primary separation at the spatial scale, although species are also segregated temporally. Golden cat was the most adaptive felid in the area, depicting a peculiar pattern of spatio-temporal segregation with other species. We suspect either intense competition or dietary segregation among some species, and propose a further investigation of their diet and the activity patterns of their prey. The study presents an early template of carnivore community organization in resource-scarce high-altitude environments, thus, offering huge ecological and conservation significance.

Temporal segregation of small feline predators and canids in the estuarine mangrove delta of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, India

A camera trap study was conducted in the mangrove of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, the eastern coast of India, to understand the assemblage, temporal segregation and dial activity pattern of small and medium-sized mammals. Forty-one pairs of passive infrared camera traps were deployed and monitored for 30 consecutive days, making a total of 1,230 trap days effort. The study reveals that the jackals accounted for 40.5%, while fishing cats and jungle cats accounted for 6.09% and 2.42% of all recorded animals, respectively. The analysis of the relative abundance index shows that the jackal is the most abundant mammal in the sanctuary (36.74). Free-ranging dogs, humans and cattle were recorded mostly during the daytime. The jackal showed a higher temporal overlap with the fishing cat (0.76, 95% CI (0.59–0.93)) and the jungle cat (0.72, 95% CI (0.62–0.82)). The jungle cat showed peak activity at dawn, while fishing cats showed peak activity at dusk. Both species temporally overlapped with the bimodal activity of the jackal. Moreover, the available prey may be shared between the three dominant predatory species by minimising the competition (effective resource partitioning). The anthropogenic threats can be a reason for a comparatively lower abundance of the fishing cat, and necessary steps are sought to protect this ecosystem.

First photographic record of Spotted Deer Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777) (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India

Axis axis also known as Chital, Spotted Deer or Axis Deer, is native to Asia. The Chital ranges over 8–30 0N in India and through Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Chital is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it possesses a very wide range, however, the population is declining outside protected areas. Although widely distributed, there is no record of Chital from the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) Sanctuary, Maharashtra. Here we report the first photographic record of Chital from the sanctuary, in the Gangewadi region of Solapur District. During a field work exercise for radio collaring of Indian Grey Wolves to monitor movement in the human-dominated landscape of Maharashtra, camera traps were placed in the Gangewadi area of the GIB sanctuary. Over the survey period, the species that were photo-captured included the Indian Grey Wolves, Indian Fox, Jungle Cat, Black Buck, Wild Boar, porcupine, and Black-naped Hare on multiple occasions. The male Spotted Deer was captured at one event in a single camera trap (17.83240N, 76.00430E) on 30 December 2020 at 0517 h. This is the first record of Spotted Deer in the grassland ecosystem of Solapur region in Maharashtra.

Jungle cat (Felis chaus) in farmlands: potential benefits of coexistence and human-wildlife conflicts in West Bengal, India

Human-wildlife coexistence has increasingly been known for providing diverse ecological services to humans. However, the global repercussions of the Anthropocene epoch have changed the status and future of human-wildlife relationships. In this paper, we shed light on the significance of a positive attitude towards sharing space with animals in identifying and managing both conflict and ecological aspects of human-wildlife interactions in an agrarian landscape. We tried to understand how interactions between meso-carnivores like jungle cats (Felis chaus) and humans influence their survival in dense human populations. We evaluate the abundance and habitat use by jungle cats seasonally and diet, as well as their interactions with farmers in West Bengal, India. The mean encounter rate of jungle cats was assessed and used as a proxy for their abundance. Using a combination of direct sign surveys, we found that the habitat preference and seasonal distribution of jungle cats were influenced by the change in seasons with respect to different habitats. Our results indicate that jungle cats were more associated with human settlements during the monsoon. Scat analysis revealed the dominance of rodents in the diets of jungle cats. This activity helps to control the rodent population from destroying crops. However, our interactions with farmers showed their negative attitude towards the species due to the instances of livestock (poultry birds) depredation. We suggest that, more interdisciplinary researches are required to address how affectively socioeconomic structures shape up positive human-wildlife interaction. Planning and implementation of conservation education programmes are also necessary to help people for understanding the economic and ecological benefits provided by jungle cats and other wide-ranging carnivores.

Rat eater and non-rat eater species killed by the people during the rodent outbreaks: An assessment in Ruma upazila of Bandarban hill district

An assessment was done to assess the intensity of rat eater and non-rat eaters’ species killed by the people during the rodent outbreaks in association with Melocanna baccifera bamboo flowering in the village of Basatlang, Neweden, Munlai, Mualpi and Ruma sadar market area of Ruma upazila of Bandarban district. The other objectives of the study were to support the future control of rodent outbreaks and conservation of wild animal species. A structured data sheet was used to record the hunted rat eater and non-rat eaters’ data from June 2009 to December 2012. Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index and Simpson’s diversity index were also calculated to assess the diversity of rat eaters and non-rat eater species. The study revealed that a total of 628 numbers of hunted rat eater and non-rat eater animals (average 14.60 numbers per month) recorded with 41 species. Of them, 12 species of mammals, 11 species of reptiles and 18 species of Aves. The overall hunted rat eater and non-rat eater diversity indices were 2.59 for Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index, and 0.82 for Simpson’s diversity index that indicate high species diversity. Irrawaddy squirrel, Tokay gecko, wild boar, deer and red-vented Bulbul were the top five hunted non-rat eater species. Domestic dog, monitor lizard, jungle cat, domestic cat and striped keelback snake were the top five rat eater species hunted by the people. Consumption and economic return were the main reasons for hunting the animals. These findings can be used to raise public awareness along with application of Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 to stop killing of rat eater and non-rat eater species during the rodent outbreaks and non-outbreaks period in the study areas, and elsewhere in Chattogram Hill Districts. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 30(3 CSI): 465-477, 2022 (June)

Using citizen science to study a mesocarnivore: the jungle catFelis chausin Sri Lanka

AbstractWe used citizen science and inexpensive methodology to assess the distribution of the jungle catFelis chaus, a relatively common species in Sri Lanka but the least studied of the four wild cat species occurring in the country. We obtained three types of records of the jungle cat: geo-referenced photographs of the species from the public; sightings obtained from print and social media, and provided via an online sighting form; and sightings by field biologists. We combined the 112 unique records obtained in this way with the 21 records from the 2012 National Red List distribution map of the species, and usedMaxEntto predict habitat suitability for the species. The new sightings were primarily in drier regions, expanding the known extent of occurrence for this species in Sri Lanka. Of the new sightings, 7.1% were road kills. Distance to nearest riverine forest, annual precipitation and distance to the nearest reservoir were the most important variables explaining habitat suitability. These findings validate our hypotheses that the species is more widespread than demonstrated previously and also ranges in human-dominated landscapes outside protected areas. Our study provides a model for how ecological and behavioural information for common species can be obtained inexpensively and incorporated into species distribution models. Studies of species such as the jungle cat, which are neither threatened nor charismatic, will help ensure that we keep common species common.