Jungle Cats (Felis chaus)

News: A new study published in Scientific Reports provides baseline data on jungle cat population, habitat preference, and conservation needs in India.

About Jungle Cats (Felis chaus)

• The jungle cat is a medium-sized wild cat found in diverse habitats across Asia.
• Scientific name: The scientific name of the jungle cat is Felis chaus.
• Naming: Its name comes from the Caucasus Mountains, where it was first discovered, and it is also called Swamp Cat or Reed Cat.
• Habitats: They inhabit grasslands, wetlands, and deserts, while avoiding dense forests and heavily modified landscapes, and preferring agro-pastoral and open habitats.
• Distribution : Jungle cats are found across Asia, including Egypt, southwest Asia, southeast Asia, Central Asia, and southern China.
  • In India : India supports large populations, with highest numbers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha across 21 States.
• Characteristics
  • Appearance: The jungle cat has a white muzzle, yellow irises, and large ears ending in black tufts.
    • It has long legs and faint stripes on its body, which give it a distinct look among small cats.
  • Adaptability: It can survive in areas with moderate human presence, but it avoids places with high population density and intense disturbance.
  • Diet: It is a carnivorous animal that mainly feeds on rodents.
    • It also eats lizards, frogs, snakes, and sometimes livestock depending on availability.
  • Social behaviour: It is not nocturnal in nature and carries out most of its hunting activities during the early morning and late afternoon periods.
• Ecological role: Jungle cats help control rodent populations in agricultural areas, which reduces crop damage and supports farming systems in agro-pastoral landscapes.
• Threats
  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Urbanisation, roads, poaching, stray dogs
  • Possible hybridisation with domestic cats
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: It  is classified as Least Concern.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: It is listed under Schedule II.