Asiatic Golden Cat Rediscovered in Assam’s Manas National Park
A team of officials from the Assam Forest Department, along with conservationists from Aaranyak and other parts of India, have confirmed the presence of the Asiatic golden cat in Manas National Park, Assam. Despite expectations based on a 2007 sighting, extensive camera trapping from 2011 to 2018 showed no evidence of the cat. However, photos taken in December 2019 and January 2021 confirmed its presence after the end of local conflicts.
The research findings were published in the summer 2024 edition of ‘CATNews’ by the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group. Key contributors to the research include Dr. M Firoz Ahmed, Dr. Dipankar Lahkar, and other conservationists. The Asiatic golden cat, a medium-sized feline, is found in the northeastern Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and southern China. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and protected under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
This species inhabits various forest types and elevations from 0 to 3,738 meters. In Northeast India, it is recorded in several reserves and sanctuaries across states like Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, as well as in Bhutan.
Doubts Revealed
Asiatic Golden Cat -: The Asiatic golden cat is a wild cat species found in parts of Asia. It has a beautiful golden-brown coat and is known for being elusive and hard to spot in the wild.
Manas National Park -: Manas National Park is a protected area in Assam, India. It is known for its rich biodiversity and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Assam Forest Department -: The Assam Forest Department is a government body responsible for managing forests and wildlife in the state of Assam, India.
Aaranyak -: Aaranyak is a non-governmental organization in India focused on biodiversity conservation in the northeastern region of the country.
CATNews -: CATNews is a publication by the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group that shares information about wild cat species around the world.
IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group -: The IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group is a part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, focusing on the conservation of wild cat species globally.
Near Threatened -: Near Threatened is a conservation status indicating that a species may become endangered in the near future if conditions affecting its survival do not improve.
India’s Wildlife Act -: India’s Wildlife Act is a law that provides protection to wild animals and plants in India, aiming to conserve the country’s biodiversity.
