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Rusty Spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus BEST SEEN AT: Gir National Park, Gujarat; Mundanthurai, Tamil Nadu THE PRECARIOUS fate of big cats like tigers and lions makes news, but few are aware that time is running out for their smaller cousins who face the same gamut of threats from habitat loss to poaching. One such rare creature is the rusty spotted cat, also called the humming bird of the cat world, not just for its small size at just over a foot, its about half the size of the domestic cat but also because it is extremely agile and active. The cat inhabits dry deciduous forest, scrub, grassland and rocky regions, though it has been known to raise kittens in the attics of homes in semi-wild areas. The cat is reported only in the western part of India and Sri Lanka. Its a shy animal, mainly arboreal and nocturnal and makes for a rare sight. Also, as sporadic reports indicate, it appears to be an extremely low density species. Rodents and birds form its menu in the jungle but closer to human habitations, it may feed on domestic chickens. In retaliation, the cat is killed for the pot and for its beautiful speckled skin. Other threats include habitat loss and fragmentation. PRERNA SINGH BINDRA
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From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 6, Issue 26, Dated July 04, 2009
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