Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Wildlife
Source: WII
Context: On Global Tiger Day 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the report “Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India”, highlighting findings from the 2018 & 2022 All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) to track 9 small cat species across tiger habitats.
About Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India:
What It Is?
A first-of-its-kind scientific report assessing the occupancy, habitat distribution, and ecological status of nine small wild cat species across India’s tiger-range landscapes, based on data from the All-India Tiger Estimation (2018 & 2022).
Released By: Released on 29th July 2025 (Global Tiger Day).
Objectives of the Report:
• To map distribution and occupancy of nine small cat species across various habitats in India’s tiger landscapes.
• To identify habitat preferences and how human disturbances impact their presence.
• To assess conservation dependence of lesser-known felids on protected areas like tiger reserves.
• To provide baseline data for integrating small cats into long-term wildlife monitoring and landscape planning.
• To inform policy formulation and research for conserving small carnivores beyond charismatic megafauna.
Species Covered & Key Findings
Species | Estimated Occupancy (km²) | Habitat Type | Key Notes
Jungle Cat | 96,275 | Dry to moist deciduous forests, widespread | Most common and resilient to disturbance
Rusty-Spotted Cat | 70,075 | Mixed deciduous forests | Second most widespread; prefers interior forests
Leopard Cat | 32,800 | Moist forests (NE, Western Ghats, Sunderbans) | Found mainly in Himalayan foothills, North East & wetlands
Desert Cat | 12,500 | Semi-arid and dry forests (W & C India) | Specialist, restricted range
Fishing Cat | 7,575 | Wetlands, riverine, mangroves (Terai, NE) | Habitat-specific, impacted by wetland loss
Clouded Leopard | 3,250 | Dense forests (NE India) | Rare, elusive, canopy-dwelling
Marbled Cat | 2,325 | Dense forests (NE India) | Very low detection, elusive
Asiatic Golden Cat | 1,850 | Evergreen forests (NE India) | Restricted and highly elusive
Caracal (no detection) | N/A | Historically in NW and Central India | Not recorded in the survey period, raises concern
Ecological Insights:
• Habitat Generalists Thrive: Jungle and rusty-spotted cats show wide distribution across diverse forest types, even near human-modified areas.
• Wetland & Forest Dependence: Fishing cats, leopard cats, and clouded leopards are tightly linked to specific habitats like wetlands and dense forests.
• Altitude and Forest Density: Rare species like marbled and golden cats occupy only intact, high-canopy forests in Northeast India.
• Human Pressure Gradient: Occupancy sharply declines with increased human activity, except for adaptive species like jungle cats.
• Landscape-Level Continuity: Small cats rely on both core tiger habitats and buffer zones, indicating need for broader landscape planning.
Conservation Significance:
• Baseline Mapping for 9 Species: First-ever pan-India assessment of small cats, offering essential data for targeted conservation.
• Protected Areas as Refuges: All species showed higher presence inside protected areas, validating Project Tiger’s biodiversity umbrella effect.
• Indicator of Ecosystem Health: Presence or absence of small cats reflects habitat integrity, prey base, and ecological stability.
• Need for Inclusive Monitoring: Emphasizes shifting focus from flagship species (like tigers) to lesser-known but ecologically vital carnivores.
• Regional Conservation Priorities: Northeast India, Terai wetlands, and dry forests of Central India need region-specific action plans.
Policy Implications:
• Integrate Small Felids in Planning: Landscape-level wildlife policies must include small cats in reserve, buffer, and corridor strategies.
• Expand Monitoring Beyond Tigers: Regular small carnivore tracking should be institutionalized within All-India Tiger Monitoring exercises.
• Prioritise Wetland and Mangrove Protection: Protect critical fishing cat habitats via enhanced eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) regulations.
• Habitat-Specific Policy Measures: Customised conservation for habitat specialists like desert cat and marbled cat is urgently needed.
• Public Awareness and Curriculum Inclusion: Include small cats in wildlife education, eco-club programs, and public awareness campaigns.
Conclusion:
This pioneering report brings long-overdue attention to India’s small wild cats, underlining the value of tiger landscapes as biodiversity umbrellas. It sets a foundation for inclusive conservation strategies that go beyond flagship species and emphasizes the need for fine-scale ecological research and habitat preservation for lesser-known fauna.