Which is the country with the highest wild cat
diversity? That’s right- India. Fifteen of the forty cat species that comprise
the family Felidae, are found in India, with the greatest diversity within
India occurring in the north-eastern states. India is also home to both the
largest wild cat (the Tiger) and the smallest (the Rusty Spotted Cat). (The Cheetah used to
roam the plains of India until it was extirpated in the twentieth century.) Here’s
a caricatured conglomeration of India’s wild cats: 5 charismatic big cats, 10
enigmatic small cats, one big poster!
Bengal Tiger-
Our national animal and one of the most alluring
species on the planet, the Bengal Tiger is an animal with which India is
associated and identified with the most. Best seen in the jungles of Cenrtal
India, tigers have not only boosted tourism in the region but have also driven
conservation. Poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation along with several other
problems are causing a steady decline in the tigers’ numbers.
Asiatic Lion-
The Asiatic Lion is a lion sub-species that exists only in Gir in Gujarat,
where 400 of these majestic beasts live. Their small population is threatened
by inbreeding, disease and conflict with humans. The male sports a scanty mane
unlike the dense hair of its African cousin. The pride size is also significantly
smaller than those of African lions.
Leopard-
Its extreme adaptability, opportunistic behaviour and stealth make the
leopard the most successful of the big cats. The leopard possesses an
exceptional climbing prowess and is even able to carry heavy prey up a tree. It
is poached heavily for its skin and parts and is facing a grave threat from
habitat loss and man-animal conflict.
Snow Leopard-
The glorious Snow Leopard is a holder of many world records. It is the
highest living land predator and is the only big cat that cannot roar. It also
has one of the longest tails in proportion to the body length, which is used
for balance and for wrapping around the body like a blanket to keep warm. The
snow leopard is a master of camouflage and stealth. It is threatened by habitat
loss, poaching and conflicts with sheep herders.
Clouded Leopard-
This gorgeous cat is the smallest of the big cats and dwells in the
Himalayan hill forests of the North-East. Poached heavily in the region, it is
listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. They are considered among the most talented
climbers in the cat family and among the few that can climb down vertical
trunks head first.
Fishing Cat-
The Fishing cat is a resident of wetland habitats and is classified as
endangered owing to habitat loss. They are good swimmers and are primarily
nocturnal. Fish comprise their main prey but they may also eat rodents,
amphibians and carrion.
Jungle Cat-
The Jungle Cat is India’s most common wild cat. It is active both during
the day and the night and is an efficient hunter, thriving in a variety of
habitats. It preys on a variety of rodents and birds, and has been reported to
kill animals larger than itself, such as porcupines.
Desert Cat-
The Desert cat inhabits the arid regions of North-western India. The
closest wild relative of the domestic tabby, it often interbreeds with domestic
cats in its home range. Among Indian small cats, it is exploited the most for
its fur, and poaching is a significant conservation threat that the species
faces.
Eurasian Lynx-
The northern Himalayas form the southernmost part of the range of the
Eurasian Lynx, which occurs throughout Eurasia. It can be distinguished easily
from other small cats by the long ear tufts, which are thought to enhance
hearing. Their furred paws act as snowshoes, aiding locomotion in the dense
snow cover of the higher Himalayas.
Pallas’ Cat-
The Pallas’ Cat or Manul is a rather odd-looking but endearing cat,
extremely shaggy in appearance. Its flat face sets it apart from its cousins. The
thick, dense fur help it keep warm in the harsh conditions of Ladakh, the only
region where it occurs in India. It hunts a variety of rodents and birds, often
on mountain slopes.
Asian Golden Cat-
An extremely secretive felid, the Golden Cat to me is the most
attractive of all cats in India. It resembles the Mountain Lion of the Americas
in appearance, but is much smaller and has short black stripes on its face.
Found in the hill forests of North-east India, it is an extremely rare animal
to come across, and is often reported from camera trap images. It ranks as
‘Near-threatened’ on the IUCN Red List owing to poaching and habitat loss.
Rusty Spotted Cat-
The Rusty Spotted Cat is the smallest wild felid in the world, and is
found through much of peninsular India. It is nocturnal in habit and extremely
shy, and is hence not commonly encountered. The unmarked tail is an
identification tip for this species. It is also known to be very tolerant of
human presence, often inhabiting the fringes of human habitation around
forests.
Marbled Cat-
This beautiful, elusive cat is another denizen of the hill forests of
North-east India, where poaching and deforestation have led it to be classified
as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN. The Marbled Cat is an extremely agile climber,
with its extraordinarily long tail serving as counterbalance. The thick, dark
spots give it the appearance of a miniature Clouded Leopard.
Leopard Cat-
This miniature version of the leopard is not only similar to its larger
cousin in being spotted, but also shares its adaptability. It is the second
most common small cat after the Jungle Cat, and thrives in a variety of
habitats. It is usually arboreal and hunts rodents and birds. Although listed
as a ‘Least Concern’ species, it faces a significant threat from hunting and habitat
loss.
Caracal-
The gorgeous caracal is one of the most sought-after small cats among
cat aficionados. The arid equivalent of the lynx, it occurs in a wide range,
from Africa through Central Asia to North-western India, where it is an
extremely rare animal to encounter. The long ear tufts and the long legs give
the caracal its characteristic feline grace. It feeds on a wide range of prey
including desert rodents, birds and even small deer.
The poster is available in both mounted and loose forms. You can order posters of both the individual species and the entire compilation-
Also, there’s a whole range of collectibles that made waves at my exhibition held in Bangalore this September. You can order these by mailing me. Here’s the list of products available with the wild cat caricatures on them-
Mounted Posters (A3- Individual species and compilation)- Rs. 2000
A2 Posters (loose)- Rs. 1200 each
A3 Posters (loose- Individual species / compilation) - Rs. 500 for the first copy and Rs. 200 for the second copy onwards
Fridge Magnets (3" x 4", Printed in sets of 4)- Any 4 cats for Rs. 1200
Coasters (3.5" x 3.5", Printed in sets of 6)- Any 6 cats for Rs. 800
Coffee Mug (Big Cats of India)- Rs. 850
Coffee Mug (Small Cats of India)- Rs. 850
Go on, mail me your orders (rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com) and turn your
house into a wild cat sanctuary!
Coffee Mug- Big Cats of India
Coffee Mug- Small Cats of India
Fridge Magnets (Set of any 4)
Coasters (Set of any 6)
For orders outside of India, please click
here to buy wild cat prints and goodies on my Redbubble store.
