Conservation of Jungle cat

Project Animal(s) : Jungle cat (Felis chaus)
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Asia
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=114
Project is timebound? : No

The jungle cat is included in the CITES Appendix II and protected over part of its range. Hunting is prohibited in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Israel, Myanmar, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand and Turkey. In Bhutan, Georgia, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam there is no legal protection of the jungle cat outside protected areas. No information is available for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Syria, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Considering the high habitat loss occurring in riparian and wetland areas, the jungle cat should be considered a research priority. Natural wetlands and reed beds should be better protected, particularly in the dry parts of its range. There is a need for better legal protection and law enforcement. The status and the ecology of the jungle cat are poorly known throughout its range. Another priority should therefore be to gain more knowledge about its ecology and current distribution in order to establish effective conservation measures.

Another issue to be addressed is the conflict between farmers and the jungle cat mostly due to poultry predation. Conservation measures should include better management and protection of domestic fowl, and the prohibition of indiscriminate poisoning and trapping.

Land policies should take in to account the ecological values of species and ecosystems. For example each jungle cat consumes approximately 1,500 rodents annually and this could form natural pest management and economic benefit for farmers.

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