Conservation of Borneo bay cat

Conservation of Borneo bay cat

Project Animal(s) : Borneo bay cat (Catopuma badia)
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Asia
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=118
Project is timebound? : No

The Borneo bay cat is included in Appendix II of CITES and is fully protected over most of its range. Hunting and trade is prohibited in Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). The occurrence of the Borneo bay cat in Brunei could not be confirmed so far, where it would have no legal protection outside of protected areas. The Borneo bay cat has been confirmed to occur in the following protected areas: Sabah – Danum Valley Conservation Area, Tawau Hills National Park, Tabin Wildlife Reserve; Sarawak – Gunung Mulu National Park, Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Pulong Tau National Park; West Kalimantan – Gunung Palung National Park; Bentuang Karimun National Park; and in East Kalimantan – Sungai Wain Protection Forest, Kutai National Park, Kayan Mentarang National Park.

In 2009, an international workshop on the Bornean wild cats was held in Penampang Sabah, Malaysia, which also addressed the conservation of the Borneo bay cat. The key objectives of the workshop were to:

  • Bring together key stakeholders to discuss the conservation needs of the Bornean wild cats in Sabah;
  • Collate all available information regarding the ecology and conservation status with a specific focus on populations in Sabah, to identify current gaps in knowledge on the cats;
  • Formulate future strategies to address gaps.

The Borneo bay cat is one of the least known felids and for effective conservation measures it is very important to gain more information through research. Thus, there is an urgent need for further studies of the Borneo bay cat in regard of its ecology, status and distribution. Its possible occurrence in Brunei and South Kalimantan must also be examined. It is also important to protect as much as possible the habitat of the Borneo Bay cat, and management priorities should include establishment of more and better protected areas in regions where the Borneo bay cat is found. The inclusion of the Borneo bay cat in CITES Appendix I to strictly prohibit its trade should be considered.

Project Agency : Cat Specialist Group

Project Agency Contact : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=1

Additional Information :

http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=13