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Description (Physical attributes): Jungle cats are medium-sized wild cats. They have a coat color that varies from sandy, greyish brown to tawny red with a slender body with underparts of cream and pale fur. Their legs are slender and long and occasionally retain faint horizontal strips from their younger age. they weigh between 11-20 pounds. Their head is narrow with a high domed forehead along with tall and rounded ears. The tails of jungle cats are relatively short encompassed several black rings ending with a black tip. Jungle Cats have large claws on both their front and back paws that help them easily scale trees.
Habitat (In India): Jungle Cats mostly prefer to stay near wetlands and wet habitats to get easy food. Also known as Reed Cats and Swamp Cats, they live in densely planted wet habitats Their preferred habitat is the tall grasses, reed beds, or thick brush surrounding wetlands which is prime rodent habitat. It is reported that Jungle cats adapt well to agricultural lands of various types. They are widely observed around forest plantations and sugarcane fields are scattered within their natural habitat. In residential areas, Jungle cats are frequently observed while they catch the chicken.
A report showed the nest of jungle cats inside the stack of sorghum crops. The litter size was seven and the den was in proximity to the farm pond but far from human settlement. Due to the easy availability of rodents, jungle cats may be inclined to live in agricultural areas, however, this may increase further mortality if the local community is not aware of it.
Behavior Usually, jungle cat hunts early morning or late afternoon as they are diurnal creatures. Jungle cats can jump high in the air to catch birds. A study showed the camera trap photographs of the jungle cats were recorded at night with a peak at the dusk. When countered by a threat, the jungle cat will vocalize before engaging in an attack, producing small roars, a behavior uncommon for domestic cats. Like domestic cats, they enjoy sunbathing. But unlike the typical house cat, they like to swim and dive. Jungle Cats groom themselves to keep clean and remove their scent—which keeps potential prey from smelling them.
Diet: Rodents make up for the jungle cat’s primary feast. However, they are also known to take to hares, reptiles, birds, young chital, wild pigs, etc. as a part of their diet. Since they are also known to be strong swimmers, fish make up for a portion of their diet as well. A field study in India estimated one cat could catch 3 to 5 rodents per day, with birds ranking second in importance. They have also seen scavenging kills of large predators.
Threats: The destruction of wetlands, the encroachment of the human population to attain agricultural/ residential land along with the reclamation of the vegetative cover has turned out to be the greatest threat faced by this cat. Other threats to this species include its killing by farmers due to their poultry taste of domestic nature. Further threats include
• Livestock farming and ranching
• Trapping and hunting of terrestrial animals
• Forestry effluents and agriculture
In India, local tribesmen easily identify the Jungle Cat from photos and describe it as part of their wild meat diet. It is considered a delicacy and found more regularly on the menu than other wild cats in the area. India formerly exported large numbers of jungle cat skins before they came under legal protection in 1976, however, illegal trade continues to this day. Their different body parts (e.g., blood, teeth, and claws) are considered sources of valued paranormal charm and used for black magic in some parts of the area in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Such superstitious beliefs encourage mass killing and intentional wildlife trade . Although small wild cats are known to frequent agricultural farmlands due to the high availability of rodents, they could be victims of poisoning due to the high pesticide load.
Species Recovery Plans: Currently, jungle cats are considered a species of "least concern" by the IUCN, however, population numbers are currently declining. They are protected under schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India. Some of the conservation actions needed include
• Site/area protection
• Resource & habitat protection
• Habitat & natural process restoration
• Training
• Legislation
• Compliance and enforcement
• Linked enterprises & livelihood alternatives