Endangered relatives of cats and dogs- Part I. Felids
May 17th is Endangered Species Day! It's a great time to learn more about the amazing wildlife that we share the planet with and especially those species that are struggling to survive. We'll start with felids and review some of the wild relatives of our housecats that are endangered cat species. This means that there are very few of the animals left in the wild.
Designating wildlife that is threatened with extinction
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (or the IUCN) maintains a database on animals that are endangered. It is called the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species which was established in 1964. The Red List has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species.
Today, more than 44,000 species are threatened with extinction. Even more concerning is that we only have the data on 28% of the species so far. Most species have not been studied enough to even make a determination.
The Red List evaluates species based on a number of factors. Then it divides them into nine categories regarding their population numbers and stability:
- Not Evaluated
- Data Deficient
- Least Concern
- Near Threatened
- Vulnerable
- Endangered
- Critically Endangered
- Extinct in the Wild
- Extinct
Endangered cat species
1. Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
The Amur leopard is critically endangered and one of the rarest large cats in the world. Only about 100 are left in the wild. The Amur leopard lives in the rugged hills of Russia and China. They survive in a snowy, cold climate. Their territory is large as they follow their main prey, the sika deer. Check out this info about Amur leopards from World Wildlife Fund UK. While the outlook for this beautiful big cat is dire, a national park called the Land of the Leopard National Park was created in 2012 to protect their habitat. Fortunately, the numbers have been slowly increasing since then.
Photo credit: Wildcats Conservation Alliance
2. Iriomote Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis)
The Iriomote cat can only be found in one region: the Iriomote Island in Japan. The island has subtropical forests and slightly elevated areas. The Iriomote Cat prefers to inhabit areas near rivers, the edge of forests, and places with low humidity levels. Sadly, there are fewer than 100 of these small cats left in the wild and their future is still uncertain.
Photo credit: Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center
3. Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Lynx was once prevalent in the Iberian Peninsula region, but now they are critically endangered and found in southern Spain and northern Portugal. They spend most of their time in dense shrubs and open grasslands. Like other lynx species, they have a short tail, ears with a tuft of long hairs at the tip (known as brushes) and beards. Conservation measures are paying off for the Iberian lynx. The population had less than 100 individuals in 2002, which has grown to over 400 cats in the Mediterranean forests of the Iberian Peninsula. See details at Life+IBERLINCE.
4. Andean Mountain Cat (Leopardus jacobita)
The Andean cat is a small feline that is considered endangered. It can be found in the high Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. These cats live in arid environments with extreme temperatures, scarce vegetation, and rocky landscapes. The Andean cat and its prey (a small rabbit-like rodent) live in a highly fragile ecosystem. It has very large territories, and it is estimated that less than 1500 are left across the Andes. Learn more about the Andean Mountain cat at the multinational conservation group Alianza Gato Andino.
5. Bornean bay cat
The size of a housecat, the Bornean bay cat lives a secluded life on the island of Borneo. Little is known about this endangered cat, with the first image taken in 1998. Deforestation of its habitat for commercial logging and oil palm plantations constitutes the most significant threat to the species. It is estimated that only 1400 bay cats exist, and their numbers are still declining.
Photo credit: Sebastian Kennerknecht for Panthera