Desert and Jungle Cat Species: Unknown Treasures of the Wild - Wild Cats Found in Deserts and Jungles: Unveiled Secrets
Less–Known Wildcat Species and Their Challenges
By Annette Berger
Typically, when one ponders wildcats, the first species that spring to mind may be the tiger, lion, leopard, or puma. However, in this region, the lynx and the European wildcat have seen a resurgence in certain areas. While the latter shares physical similarities with our feline housemates, they are unrelated. The forebear of our domestic cats is the African wildcat, akin to the fallow cat species.
Africa, as it so happens, is home to numerous intriguing wildcat species, such as the black-footed cat, which catches more prey than any of its kin in the animal kingdom and seldom consumes water. Another African species, the serval, while somewhat more known due to its genetic mixing with housecats to produce the Savannah cat, is still relatively unknown. The caracal has fluffy black ear tufts somewhat reminiscent of a lynx but is less familiar to many.
Habitat Loss Impacting Wildcats
Countless wildcat species face peril, primarily due to hunting or loss of their habitats, which are often appropriated for human dwellings or farmland. For example, the pampas cat of southern South America is potentially threatened, while the plight of the rusty-spotted cat native to India and Sri Lanka is more dire, followed by the black-footed cat.
Wildcat habitats can range from mountains, jungles, steppes, and deserts, with various species purpose-built to survive in their respective ecosystems. The sand cat, for instance, copes effectively with extremely arid settings.
Sources: WWF, Pro Wildlife, Petbook
Additional Species in Focus
Several less familiar wildcat species warrant attention:
- Iriomote Cat – Endemic to Iriomote Island, Japan, inhabiting subtropical forests, particularly near rivers and forest edges. The species is critically endangered due to approximately 250 remaining adults, habitat loss, and potential inbreeding.
- Jaguarundi – Native to Central and South America, found in dense forests, open grasslands, and scrublands. The cat is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, along with human activities like deforestation and agriculture expansion.
- Caracal – This medium-sized cat species can adapt to a variety of settings, such as deserts and forests. In Asia, it is less common and more at risk due to habitat loss and human conflict, as its elusive nature makes it challenging to assess population sizes.
- Rusty Spotted Cat – The resident of forests and grasslands of India and Sri Lanka faces threats such as habitat loss, human-cat conflict, and poaching for its fur. It ranks among the smallest wildcat species.
- European Wildcat and African Wildcat – Spanning temperate forests in Europe and savannahs and deserts across Africa, these species endure challenges like habitat fragmentation, hybridization with domestic cats, and human activities like hunting and habitat destruction.
The aforementioned wildcat species face critical adversities from human activities, habitat loss, and environmental shifts, highlighting the urgency of conservation initiatives.
- The lifestyle of individuals living in community and national legislation-protected home-and-garden areas can greatly impact the survival of endangered wildcat species, such as the Iriomote Cat and the Jaguarundi.
- With the increasing popularity of exotic pets, the need for responsible pet ownership becomes apparent as the inappropriate keeping of wildcats like the Caracal and African Wildcat could negatively affect their populations in science and technology-driven breeding programs and result in genetic degradation.
