DESERT CAT

                         STATUS

IUCN                      :  LC* 

CAMP                    :  LRnt 

ZSI                         :  Endangered 

CITES                    :  Appendices II 

Schedule              :  I (Part I) 

Activity                 :  Nocturnal 

Social Group       :  Solitary

👉Local name   :   Ran biladi, Ran ni biladi

👉physical measurements & life cycle:👇

Length            :  75 cm 

Weight           :  4 - 5 kg

Height           :  20 - 30 cm

Gestation     :  45 days

Life span     :  10 - 15 years

Breeding     :  Round the years

👉Description   :  Numerous dark spots, pale yellowish fur, tail ringed with black, two horizontal stripes on cheeks; chin, throat and breast, dirty white and without spots. 

👉Food   :  Birds, reptiles, rodents, hare and sometimes-even insects. 

👉Distribution   :  In Gujarat, Velavadar National Park, Kachchh, Saurashtra and parts of Banaskantha districts. Recently seen near Kaladungar in Kachchh. 

👉Habitat   :  Desert and scrubjungle. 

👉Behaviour   :  Nocturnal. Spends the daytime under ground in burrows and comes out for prey after dusk. 

👉Signs of presence   :  Underground burrows or hollows in scrub may give indication of its presence.

👉Despite its name 'Desert Cat', this cat has also been recorded in central India and Deccan region of Maharashtra near Pune. In actuality, the desert cat (Felis sylvestris ornata) is a sub-species of wild cat (Felis sylvestis) that is distributed over many parts of the world.