19/04/2024
Wild Cats of Sri Lanka
There are about 126 species of mammals recognized in Sri Lanka. Of these, 17 are carnivores while four are wild cats. They include the Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), the Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), and the Rusty Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosa).
The Rusty Spotted Cat is the smallest wild cat in the world, approximately the size of an ordinary domestic cat. In Sinhala it is called “Kola Diviya”. As its name suggest, it has short brownish-grey fur with a rust hue. The cat's face features two dark streaks along each cheek and four stripes extending above its eyes, between the ears, and down along the shoulders, tapering into elongated spots. Faint rusty-brown spots and blotches can be observed along its flanks. The underparts of the body, the throat, chest, and belly are predominantly white with large black spots and bars. It has small rounded ears, black soled feet, and a tail that is about half the length of its body.
Out of all 4 wildcats in Sri Lanaka it’s the most elusive and rarest. In Sri Lanka it has been recorded in all climatic zones including dry zone scrublands and montane forests and even close to suburban areas.
Jungle Cats, are about 3-4 times the size of domestic cats with a slightly shorter tail and longer legs. The coat colour varies, ranging from a uniform reddish or sandy brown to a tawny grey. Kittens are born spotted and striped but lose these markings at sexual maturity, retaining only dark arm bands on the forelimbs and hindlimbs and faint rings at the tail's end. Jungle cats have long, slender faces with a bright white muzzle. Unlike some other cats, the back of their ears lacks distinct spots. The ears are set close together at the top of the head and topped with short, distinct black hairs.
They are mostly found in dry zone forests, cultivated lands and even near town areas. In Sinhala it is called as “Wal Balala”. The jungle cat is categorized as Near Threatened on the National Red List.
Fishing cats are strong and stocky with short, coarse olive-grey fur marked by solid black spots along their flanks. They have a large head with a broad forehead, elongated muzzle, and two stripes from yellowish-green eyes down the face. Small, round ears with black backs and a white spot. The body is deep-chested, with short muscular legs showing distinctive elbow bars on the forelegs. A white underbelly has black spots and stripes. Their tail is less than half their body length, thick, with incomplete rings and a solid black tip.
Fully grown Fishing Cats are the second largest wild cat in Sri Lanka. In Sinhala it’s named as “Handun Diviya”.
Fishing cats are found throughout Sri Lanka, specially associated with a water source like wetlands, rivers and mangroves. But they are found in urban areas too. Unlike most feline species, the fishing cat is well adapted for a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
The leopard is the largest of the four wildcats in Sri Lanka and it is the top most predator in the country’s wilderness. It’s locally referred as “Kotiya”. It has a golden-yellow coat covered in spots and distinctive rosettes, which are dark spots arranged in a circular pattern. Their belly and inner sides of their legs are white with spots.
Its habitat preferences are diverse, ranging from lowland dry forests to cloud forests in the central highlands. They are mostly seen in the national parks of Sri Lanka. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) mentioned the threat level to our leopards to “vulnerable” on their international Red List of Threatened Species.
These feline species exhibit the most diverse fur patterns of all terrestrial carnivores. They face several threats that pose challenges to their survival including habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, snares, road kills and lack of conservation measures.
With 22 million people living in Sri Lanka coexistence between this kind of animals and humans is more imperative before these wildlife species goes extinct.
J. A. Nirma Buthsarani
2nd Year (CHE/EMF/ARM)
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/big-cats-1
https://scar.lk/portfolio/rusty-spotted-cat/
https://scar.lk/portfolio/jungle-cat/
https://scar.lk/portfolio/fishing-cat/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJyf3ogP2oI
