RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT SPOTTED IN PURULIA, WEST BENGAL

PRELIMS BITS 

• Overview:
  The rusty-spotted cat, the world’s smallest cat species, was recently spotted in Purulia district, West Bengal. This marks the first documented sighting of the species in the region, captured on camera by researchers from the Human and Environment Alliance League (HEAL) during a pangolin poaching investigation.
• Characteristics:
  • Weighs about 900 grams and measures around 1.5 feet in length, with its tail adding another foot.
  • Smaller than a domestic cat, it has unique behaviour and appearance that make it hard to spot in the wild.
• IUCN Red List:
  • Classified as “Near Threatened.”
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • Found primarily in dry, deciduous forests in India and Sri Lanka, with recent sightings in Nepal.
  • About 80% of the global population resides in India, but habitats are increasingly threatened by land conversion.
  • Purulia’s forests raise questions about the cat’s migratory behaviour.