Marbled cat

The marbled cat is a small wild feline that inhabits the forests of the Eastern Himalayas and Southeast Asia, flourishing at elevations up to 2,500 meters. This elusive animal has been classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List since 2015. While it was initially believed to belong to the pantherine lineage, genetic research now shows that it is more closely related to the Asian golden cat and the bay cat, having diverged from other feline species approximately 9.4 million years ago.

In terms of appearance, the marbled cat is roughly the size of a domestic cat, distinguished by its rounded ears, long tail, and fur adorned with black stripes and spots. It thrives in humid tropical forests, extending from the eastern Himalayan foothills to parts of China, Sumatra, and Borneo. Interestingly, in some areas, these cats have been observed to be active during the day. Their diet primarily consists of birds, squirrels, rodents, and reptiles.

Unfortunately, marbled cats face numerous threats, including indiscriminate trapping, deforestation, and illegal wildlife trade. In an effort to protect them, they are listed in CITES Appendix I, which provides them with a degree of international protection. Various countries also enforce their own regulations to safeguard these cats. Two subspecies of marbled cats are recognized, with genetic studies indicating that they diverged from other feline species millions of years ago.