First-ever study on small cats flags infra expansion, illegal trade as keys challenges

Poaching, fragmentation of forests due to infrastructure projects and illegal wildlife trade are the major challenges for nine species of small cats in India’s tiger reserves, revealed the first-ever study conducted on small cats by the Union Environment Ministry.

The report said that while jungle cats were the most widespread, rusty-spotted cats are declining. Forests in the North-East remain the stronghold for three elusive species -- clouded leopard, marbled cat and Asiatic golden cats.

Among the nine small cat species inhabiting India’s tiger-range forests, the jungle cat has the widest distribution. It inhabits diverse habitats from wetlands and grasslands to dry deciduous and scrub forests.

It is also found across tiger landscapes, with the highest occupancy in central India. Highly adaptable, jungle cats are skilled swimmers that are capable of diving into shallow water to catch fish and are also proficient climbers. However, the report pointed to their declining population, primarily due to habitat loss, poaching, and retaliatory killings.

The rusty-spotted cat ranks second in terms of occupied area. It is found across the country, except in the North-East. The caracal and desert cat are restricted to the semi-arid and arid regions of central India, with the caracal confined to western India, particularly Rajasthan. The fishing cat, a specialist to aquatic habitats, is limited to Terai in the Northeast India and the Sundarbans. The Asiatic golden cat, marbled cat, and clouded leopard are restricted to the dense tropical forests of eastern Himalayas.

Fishing cats and leopard cats face severe threats from the illegal pet trade and human–wildlife conflict. Their high occupancy within tiger reserves highlights the broader benefits of tiger-focused conservation efforts.

The report highlighted that unlike tigers and lions, small cats often inhabit landscapes interwoven with human settlements, making them particularly susceptible to environmental changes that may occur due to activities like encroachment of forests and infrastructure expansion.

The report highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive studies and targeted habitat conservation efforts to secure their long-term survival and ecological functions.

Besides rapid habitat destruction, clouded leopards face multiple threats, including prey depletion, demand-driven poaching for pelts, body parts and live animals for the pet trade. They were once widely spread across the Himalayan landscape but are now restricted to the forests in north-eastern states.

“It is an extremely common species involved in the illegal wildlife trade. In addition, the mainland clouded leopard has also lost approximately 64 percent of its global range, underscoring its vulnerability to extinction,” report said.

It further revealed that despite their legal protection, forest habitats outside the protected areas in India faced intense pressure of resource extraction from communities residing in nearby areas.

“These habitats are also increasingly fragmented by infrastructure such as roads and railways and face continual encroachment by expanding agricultural and developmental demands. Habitat specialists such as the fishing cat and clouded leopard are likely to be more vulnerable to human-induced habitat loss,” the report said.