Nature is an amazing place for fresh air and sunshine. Nature is also great for mental health, as being in it reduces stress and anger. but did you know that nature is also an important source of tenderness?
yes, forests, jungles, deserts, and other natural places are home to millions of cute animals: koalas, llamas, alpacas, opossums, spooders, slow lorises, polar foxes, harp seals, and many more. on this list, there is, of course, the rusty-spotted cat, which by the way is also the smallest wild cat on the planet.
meet the smallest feline species on the planet: the cat with the rusty spots
image credits: bbc
bbc recently released a preview of their latest episode of big cats. Features a near-adult rusty-spotted cat living in the wild in Sri Lanka. the rare cat is seen roaming the woods and jumping on the water, searching for food and exploring the facility. And he’s adorable!
bored panda reached out to danielle miles, a nevada wildlife researcher working on the wildlife response to conifer removal and currently working on her PhD while also teaching classes (as Conservation biology). thousands has previously done research on carnivores and animal behavior, including the rusty-spotted cat, and has agreed to provide more details on the wild animal species for our readers.
image credits: bbc
The rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is a wild species of unusual cat that lives in the forests of Sri Lanka and much of India, with sporadic sightings in Terai and Nepal.
danielle miles wrote for the animal diversity network about the rusty-spotted cat during her college years: “the way the animal diversity network used to work was from a list of species that needed to be updated. then, through universities and approved advisers, people could volunteer to write the page for the species needed. at the time, he was a university researcher working in two labs, one on spotted hyenas and a more general one on carnivore evolution. so when I saw that the rusty-spotted cat was one of the species that still needed an account, I jumped at the chance.”
Measuring between 35 and 48cm in body length, the adorable wild cat can easily fit in the palms of your hands
image credits: bbc
These little cats are predominantly nocturnal, though they come out briefly during the day. however, their activity during the day is quite limited. cats with rusty spots often hide in trees and caves to avoid larger predators in the area.
Rodents and birds are, as you may have imagined, the main course of this friendly cat’s food. however, if necessary, they will also pounce on other small prey such as lizards, frogs, and insects. Much of the rusty-spotted cat’s cuteness comes from its fur and size. the rare animals are often described as a smaller version of a leopard, sporting rust-colored fur and fewer, but still present, spots. the average rusty-spotted cat is around 35-48 cm in body length, as well as another 15-30 cm in tail length. it could very easily fit in your hands if it curls up.
many people online were interested in whether the adorable animal could be tamed. However, Miles explains whether they should really be brought into people’s homes: “In short, no. an easy way to predict the outcome of people buying rusty-spotted cats is to look at the fate other species have met in these scenarios. how many other species of wild cats, bears, alligators and the like have had domestication attempts just to rescue hundreds or thousands of animals living incomplete lives, unable to re-acclimate to a free life.”
image credits: bbc
“perhaps the closest examples to the rusty-spotted cat to turn to are actually lemurs and other small primates.” continuous miles. “People are drawn to the idea of species like these as pets because they are cute and intelligent, and their size makes them seem manageable and less dangerous. however, the truth is that these situations do not work and the animals end up being euthanized or, if they are lucky, rescued like the island of lemurs.”
Like the American bison, black capuchin, red-fronted lemur, and several other wildlife, the rusty-spotted cat is also on the near-threatened list. the main cause is that its natural habitat, deciduous forests, is in decline due to cultivation and natural loss.
cats with rusty spots can be found in sri lanka & Indian
image credits: bbc
We’ve asked thousands what can be done to help the rusty-spotted feline avoid extinction. She said: “There are no specific conservation plans targeting just the rusty-spotted cat that I am currently aware of, but a focus on preserving its natural habitat and protecting more space from development is key. protections for undisturbed landscapes would not only benefit the rust-spotted cat in the future, but would also provide habitat for all species in those ecosystems, some of which may have yet to be discovered.”
“Threats to rusty-spotted cat populations are the same ones that have caused many species to decline across terrestrial landscapes: habitat loss and limitations on their natural ranges and movements,” explained Miles. “As human populations continue to skyrocket, especially in India, developed areas continue to grow and expand into areas that were formerly forest habitats. furthermore, the expansion of roads and agricultural land has led to increased sightings of rusty-spotted cats in more human-dominated landscapes.”
“However, I think the growing intrigue around the rusty-spotted cat can be harnessed for conservation,” explained Miles. “These are especially fascinating creatures due to their size and relative novelty to the general public. I encourage anyone now captivated by the rusty-spotted cat to find helpful ways to fuel their passion.”
image credits: bbc
Supporting zoos and conservation organizations can help turn the tide on the rusty-spotted cat threat: “I know some major zoos, like the San Diego Zoo and the Berlin Zoo, have rusty-spotted cats. visiting and sponsoring animals at credible conservation organizations such as these can allow for close interactions with the species while maintaining respect and funding for their wild counterparts,” said Miles.
“just a few years ago the berlin zoo had its first successful breeding program for rusty-spotted cats and they are not sold to individuals, so anyone trying to purchase a rusty-spotted cat for their home should I know these animals are being stolen from their natural habitats, probably from their mothers, so they are young enough to acclimate to human interaction.”
Miles also explained that another option is to volunteer at local zoos or animal rescues. The rusty-spotted cat is relatively rare, sure, but people will find that giving their time and energy to these organizations will be a great learning experience, and much more rewarding.
unfortunately, the rusty-spotted cat is also on the near-threatened list
image credits: bbc
“Secondly,” Miles continued, “with any species that has recently interacted with humans, there is the concern of zoonotic disease. Zoonotic diseases are those that are transmitted between humans and animals and many of our deadliest outbreaks have come from this type of transmission, for example the Sars and Ebola outbreaks in recent history. Bringing rusty-spotted cats into human homes, especially with the presence of other species that they wouldn’t encounter in the wild, dramatically increases the risk of spreading disease and the likelihood that these life-threatening outbreaks are diseases we’ve never seen or treated before.” . /p>
before you ask yourself, who is the second smallest cat in the world? It’s the black-footed cat. Although not the smallest, it is credited with the title of the world’s deadliest cat for its ability to take down more prey than any other cat. also adorably tiny, also up there with all the cute animals.
here’s a video of the rusty-spotted cat roaming wild in its natural habitat
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