IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Patel, K. | |
| Preliminary survey of small cats in Eastern Gujarat, India | |
| 2011 Cat News (54): 08-11 | |
The deciduous forest habitats of the Baria and Chhotaudepur forest divisions spread over the Vadodara and Dahod districts of the Panchmahals region in eastern Gujarat in western India. This paper deals with the preliminary observations made of small cats in 270 km2 of the area studied intensively between December 2005 and February 2007. A total of 207 sightings of three species of small cats were obtained. The jungle cat _Felis chaus_ was seen in 109 sightings and found to be widespread. 17 sightings of the rusty-spotted cat P_rionailurus rubiginosus _constitute a new distribution record for the region. The presence of the Asiatic wildcat _Felis silvestris ornata_ in the study area cannot be ruled out. Many cats were found with similar coat patterns and activity as the Asiatic wildcat, but because of the lack of clear photographs and in absence of DNA techniques the cats observed were considered as _Felis_ spp.; 84 sightings of such cats were recorded. Observations revealed rodents as the major food item for all three small cats. Ten species of small rodents were found in the study area. The forest areas of Kevadi (22ø 31' N/ 73ø 56' E), Fangia (22ø 32'N/ 73ø 56'E) and Ratanmahals (22ø 32'N/74ø 08'E) were found to be the most important sites for the rusty-spotted cat since sizeable populations of this cat were found within these forest pockets. |
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