Conservation of Leopard cat

Project Animal(s) : Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Asia
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=123
Project is timebound? : No

The leopard cat is included on CITES Appendix II, and leopard cat populations in Bangladesh, India and Thailand are included in Appendix I (as Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis). The leopard cat is protected across part of its range. Hunting is prohibited in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Thailand and Taiwan. Hunting and trade are regulated in South Korea, Lao PDR and Singapore. There is no legal protection outside protected areas in Bhutan, Brunei, China, and Vietnam. The leopard cat is on the protected species list of 2009 in Afghanistan and all hunting and trade is prohibited within the country. There is no information for North Korea. It is found in numerous protected areas.

For the Critically Endangered Iriomote cat conservation measures have been implemented and it is quite well researched. The population was considered stable but it is now assumed that increasing tourism and habitat loss are negatively affecting the population.

Further research is needed to determine both the taxonomic and conservation status of the leopard cat. Although it seems to be tolerant to different types and levels of habitat disturbance, the degree of this tolerance is currently unknown and must be researched.

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