Description

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Context:

For the first time, the elusive rusty-spotted cat was found frolicking in the jungles of West Bengal’s Purulia district.

About Rusty-Spotted Cat:

Attribute	Details
Scientific Name	Prionailurus rubiginosus
Size	Smallest and lightest known cat in the world.
Distribution	Dry deciduous and semi-deciduous forests in northern and central India, Western Ghats, Kachchh, Rajasthan, peninsular India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Population in India	India holds 80% of the species' total population.
Coat	Fawn-grey with rusty spots on the back and flanks.
Head	Short, rounded with two white streaks on the inner edges of the eyes.
Eyes	Large, with greyish brown to amber irises; large eyes are adapted for nocturnal behavior.
Legs and Feet	Relatively short legs with black soles on the feet.
Tail	Moderately long, rusty-colored, unmarked.
Conservation Status	IUCN Red List: Near Threatened.

Big Cats in India

Species	Population in India	Details
Royal Bengal Tiger	2,967 (2018-19 Census)	India accounts for about 70% of the world’s tiger population.
Asiatic Lion	674 (2020 Census)	Gir National Park in Gujarat is the last abode for the surviving population of the Asiatic Lions in the world. The population increased from <200 since the 1960s.
Leopard	12,000-14,000	The population is genetically diverse/outbred compared to other subspecies in Asia.
Snow Leopard	500 in India (2021)	Native to mountain ranges in Central and South Asia. In India, they are found in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Cheetah	Reintroduced in 2022	Cheetahs were extinct in India since 1952. 8 Cheetahs were reintroduced from Namibia into Kuno National Park.

ALSO READ

International Big Cat Alliance

Source:

THE PRINT

PRACTICE QUESTION

India is home to several species of big cats, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, and Leopard. Discuss the conservation status, challenges, and conservation efforts for these big cats in India. (150 words)