LEOPARD - CAT

                     STATUS

IUCN                  :  LC 

ZSI                      :  Vulnerable 

CITES                 :  Appendices II 

Schedule           :  I (Part I) 

Population       :  Unknown

Activity              :  Nocturnal 

Social Group    :  Solitary

👉Local name   :   Chaktavali biladi, Cheetah biladi

👉Physical measurements and life cycle:👇

Length               :  60 cm

Tail length        :   15 - 40 cm

Weight              :  4 - 5 kg

Height               :  30 - 35 cm

Maturity           :  18 months

Gestation          :   65 - 72 days

Litter size         :  3 - 5 

Longevity         :  10 - 15 year

Breeding           :  Throughout the year, especially

                               Summer

👉Description   :   Upper parts yellowish and the under parts are white, with black to dark brown spots and blotches throughout the body giving appearance of a miniature of panther, tail appears barred with black. 

👉Food  :  Hares, birds, reptiles, rodents, fishes. 

👉Distribution   :  Narmada district, Shoolpaneshwar sanctuary 

👉Habitat   :  Prefers open patches within dense forest. 

👉Behaviour   :   Nocturnal in habit, takes shelter in hollows of trees, preys upon small mammals and birds, quire shy. 

👉Signs of presence  :  Pugmarks (smaller than leopard's 2 to 3 cm wide), voice/call, killing of poultry on the outskirt of villages.

👉    It has been recorded that if the Leopard cat is kept and reared as a pet in very young age, it would return to its owner even if driven away. Breeding between domestic cat and Leopard cat has also been recorded