The natural world. Looking pretty for 3.5b years.

Rare Cat

Author: Hugh Bollinger/Friday, November 15, 2013/Categories: natural history, wildlife conservation, video, environment

The Bay Cat is a very rare cat. Endemic to the island of Borneo, the small feline is little known, seldom seen, and declining even in pristine habitats. It is thought that less than 3000 of the tawny cats exist on the large island. What makes its recent observation especially exciting is that a video camera trap observed a young bay cat on a daytime stroll in a deforested landscape of second growth forest.

According to researchers at the Imperial College of London: “Conservationists used to assume that very few wild animals can live in logged forest, but we now know this land can be home for many endangered species. Our study shows solid evidence that even large carnivores, such as these magnificent bay cats, can survive in commercially logged forests.”

Camera traps are very useful wildlife observation tools. The are non-invasive, survive long durations in harsh conditions, and allow 27-7 monitoring of animal movement. It's exciting they have captured imagery of such rare animals trying to survive in spite of declining habitat. Illegal Logging for palm oil plantations and timber exports continue to destroy the forests of Borneo. The next step may require "trapping" of surviving bay cats for captive breeding efforts and future re-introduction into safer and restored habitats.

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Tags: wildlife conservation bay cat Borneo wild cat conservation tropical wildlife protection deforesation illegal logging