Description

A recent wildlife survey in Arunachal Pradesh has provided the first photographic confirmation of the presence of the elusive Pallas’s cat in the state, marking a significant milestone in India’s mammalian biodiversity records.

About Pallas’s Cat

The Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), also known as the manul, is a small wild cat known for its excellent camouflage and unique adaptations to cold, arid environments. This species was first described in 1776 by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas, based on specimens collected near Lake Baikal in Russia.

Geographic Distribution

Pallas’s cats are native to Central Asia, with their range spanning:

• Western Iran

• Mongolia

• China

• Russia (particularly regions bordering Mongolia and China)

• Kazakhstan

• Kyrgyzstan

The recent sightings in Arunachal Pradesh represent a noteworthy eastward range extension, highlighting the cat’s ability to adapt to diverse mountainous habitats.

Habitat And Ecology

The species predominantly inhabits rocky montane grasslands, alpine steppes, and shrublands, usually at high altitudes where snow cover remains below 15–20 cm. It primarily preys on small mammals such as lagomorphs (pikas and hares) and rodents.

Adapted to cold climates, the Pallas’s cat is a solitary and nocturnal hunter, often resting in rock crevices and dense vegetation during the day to avoid predators. Its elusive nature and cryptic coloration make sightings extremely rare, even within its native range.

Distinctive Features

The Pallas’s cat is roughly the size of a domestic cat but is more robust and stocky. Its dense fur provides insulation against harsh, cold ground temperatures. Key characteristics include:

• Fur Colour: Pale silvery gray or light brown with faint dark markings on some individuals.

• Head and Eyes: Broad head with high-set eyes that aid in detecting prey across rocky terrain.

• Ears: Low-set, rounded ears that minimize heat loss.

• Tail: Thick, bushy tail with black rings and a black-tipped end.

• Underfur: Fur on the underparts is about twice as long as that on the back, an adaptation to lying and crouching on cold surfaces.

These unique physical traits allow the Pallas’s cat to blend seamlessly into its environment, making it extremely difficult to detect.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

• CITES: Appendix II

Although currently listed as Least Concern, Pallas’s cats face threats from habitat degradation, prey scarcity, and climate change in certain parts of their range. The Arunachal Pradesh sighting underscores the importance of monitoring high-altitude ecosystems in India to conserve rare and cryptic species.

Significance Of Arunachal Discovery

The photographic evidence from Arunachal Pradesh not only confirms the presence of the species in India’s northeast but also provides new insights into its distribution and ecological adaptability. The discovery can inform conservation strategies, encourage further wildlife surveys, and raise public awareness about the region’s unique biodiversity.

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