DOCSLIB.ORG

Proceedings First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Proceedings First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium Proceedings of the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium 25–29 November 2015 Nepal Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. © Fishing Cat Working Group Suggested citation: Appel, A. and Duckworth, J. W. (eds). 2016. Proceedings of the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, 25–29 November 2015, Nepal. Fishing Cat Working Group, Bad Marienberg, Germany, and Saltford, Bristol, United Kingdom. Contributors: Tiasa Adhya, Angie Appel, Neville Buck, Linda Castaneda, Chandra Shekhar Chaudhary, Sagar Dahal, J. W. Duckworth, Sailendra Raj Giri, Vanessa Herranz Muñoz, Murthy Kantimahanti, Giridhar Malla, Rama Mishra, Shomita Mukherjee, Hari Pariyar, Hasan Rahman, Anya Ratnayaka, Sharad Singh, Tulshi Laxmi Suwal, Sanjan Thapa, Thaung Ret, Ashan Thudugala, Jim Sanderson, Karan Bahadur Shah, Bidhya Sharma, Kumar Upadhyaya, Daniel Willcox Cover photo: Neville Buck Layout: Angie Appel First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, November 2015 1 Contents Foreword 3 Acknowledgements 4 Participants 5 Summary 6 Fishing Cat Conservation Strategy 11 Presentations Phylogeography of the Fishing Cat in India 1 5 Shomita Mukherjee FishingCatinSoutheastAsia:speculationsonstatus 19 J. W. Duckworth Chitwan National Park and Buffer Zone at a glance 24 Chandra Shekhar Chaudhary Conservation status of the Fishing Cat in Chitwan National Park,Nepal 25 Rama Mishra Fishing Cat outside protected areas in Nepal Terai 27 Sagar Dahal Fishing Cat conservation in hill country, Sri Lanka 29 Ashan Thudugala Status of Fishing Cat in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Central Nepal 32 Bidhya Sharma Radio-collaring Fishing Cats in urban wetlands 34 Anya Ratnayaka Identifying priority sites and conservation actions for FishingCatinCambodia 37 Thaung Ret and Vanessa Herranz Muñoz Fishing Cat conservation in West Bengal, India 41 Tiasa Adhya Fishing Cat status in Vietnam 44 Daniel Willcox StatusandconservationofFishingCatinBangladesh 46 Hasan Rahman, Jennifer McCarthy and Kyle McCarthy (presented by Hasan Rahman) Ecology and conservation of Fishing Cat in Godavari mangroves ofAndhra Pradesh 48 Giridhar Malla Community-based Fishing Cat conservation in the Eastern GhatsofSouthIndia 51 Murthy Kantimahanti Captive Fishing Cats in European zoos 55 Neville Buck First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, November 2015 2 Fishing Cat Species Survival Plan in North America 58 Linda Castaneda A recovery plan for otters in Southeast Asia 59 Katrina Fernandez (presented by Will Duckworth) Fishing Cat and otters in Pakistan 61 Angie Appel Strategic Planning 64 Kumar Upadhyaya References 66 Field visit to the Bandarjola islands 70 Press release: First ever Conservation Strategy for the Fishing Cat 72 First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, November 2015 3 Foreword Almost three decades after the Fifth International Snow Leopard Symposium, conservationists working on behalf of the world’s Fishing Cats met for the very first time. The five-day symposium took place in Nepal, and brought together participants from the range countries of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, and interested stakeholders from Germany, UK and USA. The range countries of Indonesia (Java), Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam did not send representatives although the possible status of Fishing Cat in these countries was covered to some extent by participants. The meeting was supported by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MbZSCF), Fishing Cat Fund, and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Going into the 2015 symposium Fishing Cat was one of four small cats considered Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (the others are Andean Cat, Bay Cat and Flat-headed Cat). In spite of this great concern for the future of Fishing Cat populations, and known losses in Southeast Asia there had been no international meeting to bring conservationists together. The paucity of funding to support Fishing Cat conservation efforts did not thwart conservationists in Cambodia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Supported in large part with funding from the MbZSCF, successful local efforts in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, together with an effort in Thailand, inspired a belief that future conservation efforts could be guided by sharing experience and knowledge. To push global Fishing Cat conservation forward, this experience and hard-won knowledge had to be presented at an international forum. The successful proposal to support the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium was submitted to MbZSCF by Angie Appel, Germany. The date and place of the symposium were chosen by consensus to be May 2015, at the Koshi Bird Observatory in south-eastern Nepal. Though Nepal’s devastating earthquake forced the meeting date and time to be postponed and relocated, nothing would prevent dedicated Fishing Cat conservationists from meeting in one place at the same time. After so many years of waiting the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium began on 25 November 2015 at the Park View River Resort near Chitwan National Park, Kuleni, Nepal. Each conservationist presented their efforts and shared their experiences, published in these proceedings. After each day’s presentations long hours illuminated by candle light were spent relating experiences and discussing actions needed to save the world’s Fishing Cats. The hallmark of the symposium was the high level of camaraderie, cooperation and sharing. Here were nearly all the world’s experts on Fishing Cat conservation assembled in one place for the first time. Aided by candles and headlamps the revision ofthe Red List assessment was discussed. The new generation of highly dedicated conservationists working tirelessly on behalf of Fishing Cat conservation is inspiring. Future support for existing efforts and additional support to fill gaps in our knowledge such as in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar is vital. The lessons gained by a failure to support an established conservation effort in Thailand by a uniquely talented person must never be repeated anywhere ever again. Funding agencies must accept that by any measure Fishing Cats are specialists, and no larger generalist species can act as umbrellas to protect their limited and often threatened habitats. Much of Southeast Asia had already been lost. The Javan Fishing Cat subspecies has likely followed the Javan Tiger into extinction. Fishing Cats in Vietnam have no laws protecting them and any that remain might be a lost cause. The existence of Cambodia’s last Fishing Cats depends on bold conservation actions. Despite these setbacks, Fishing Cat conservationists will never give up. Donors should not give up either. First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, November 2015 4 Acknowledgements The symposium participants are grateful to the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Fishing Cat Fund and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for providing the funding to make this symposium possible. We thank Prativa Kaspal for her efforts in preparing the initial symposium scheduled to be held in May 2015 at the Koshi Bird Observatory in south-eastern Nepal. In April, the Himalayas suddenly thwarted our plans. When the earthquakes happened, temples fell to rubble, people died, houses became too dangerous to stay in and roads too precarious to travel on. So we decided to postpone the symposium to 25–29 November. Sadly, Prativa could not join us during this time. Angie is indebted to the Chaudri family for giving her a home away from home during her stay in Kathmandu. She especially thanks Sangeeta for her patience and the always delicious food. In early November it became apparent that the political unrest and ongoing strikes in southeastern Nepal would make traveling to the Koshi Bird Observatory too adventurous. Sharad Singh and the team of Himalayan Nature hosted our crisis meetings and served dainty food. Sharad found a new venue and organised our safe transport. Thank you all!! We particularly thank Sagar Dahal for all his logistical assistance despite the severe fuel shortage. He made sure that all participants coming from abroad were accommodated in the MountainChild Guest House. We thank all the Guest House staff for the great service and indulgently bearing our fluster at departures. Taxi driver Dipendra Shrestha deserves a special mention. He was always there when needed and waited patiently at the airport, sometimes for hours. Kumar Upadhyaya and his colleagues of the Human Resource Development Centre generously provided boards and office space. Angie appreciated the inspiring conversations and the never ending flow of sweet tea. Tiasa Adhya thanks Hem Sagar Baral and Sailendra Raj Giri of Zoological Society of London Nepal who arranged for her to pass the turmoil at the international border near Birgunj safely. We were all relieved when we finally met her in Narayanghat. Thanks are due to Palat Chaudhary and his team at Park View River Resort in Kuleni for hosting us, preparing amazing food and making our stay enjoyable. J. W. Duckworth thanks Palat and his staff for accommodating him several days early and allowing excellent wildlife viewing. Palat guided us on a jungle walk across the Bandarjola
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Flat-Headed Cat (Prionailurus Planiceps)
    12/02/2019 Flat-headed cat factsheet on Arkive - Prionailurus planiceps Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) French: Chat À Tête Plate Spanish: Gato Cabeciancho Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Felidae Genus Prionailurus (1) Size Male head-and-body length: 42 – 50 cm (2) Female head-and-body length: 33 – 37 cm ( 2) Male tail length: 13 – 20 cm (2) Female tail length: 15 – 17 cm ( 2) Male weight: 1.5 – 2.75 kg (2) Female weight: 1.5 kg (2) Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List (1), and listed on Appendix I of CITES (3). Its distinctly elongated, flattened head and small, rounded ears, make this unusual member of the cat family bear a strong resemblance to the civets, which are not cats, but members of the Viverridae family (4) (5). About the size of a domestic cat, the flat-headed cat has a long body, short legs and a short, thickly-furred tail (5). Even more than the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrina), the flat-headed cat appears remarkably adapted to a semi-aquatic, fish-eating lifestyle (6). Partial webbing between the toes help the animal to move through water, and the long, narrow jaws and pointed, backward-facing teeth aid the catching and holding of slippery prey such as fish and frogs. The thick, soft coat is reddish-brown on the top of the head and dark brown on the body, finely speckled with grey and buff on the tips (5). The belly is mottled white, spotted and splashed with brown, and the insides of the limbs are reddish-brown, fading towards the feet (2).
    [Show full text]
  • (Prionailurus Viverrinus) at Peam Krasaop Wildlife Sanctuary, South West Cambodia
    Bas-relief on Bayon Temple, possibly representing a Fishing Cat swimming. Conservation of a newly recorded population of Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) at Peam Krasaop Wildlife Sanctuary, south west Cambodia. www.fishingcatcambodia.org Kla Trey Cambodian Fishing Cat Project Conservation of a newly recorded population of Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) at Peam Krasaop Wildlife Sanctuary, south west Cambodia. www.fishingcatcambodia.org ProjecT summAry Categorised as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) had only been recorded through camera-trapping once in Cambodia. Fishing cats have declined sharply across South-East Asia where, according to the Fishing Cat Working Group, there might be new populations still to be found but the species could also be approaching extinction. In 2015, the CBC recorded1 Fishing Cats at two sites with no previous records in south-west Cambodia: Peam Krosaop Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) and Ream National Park (RNP). We photo-captured two individuals at PKWS, one of the largest mangrove areas in South-East Asia. We were also informed of the killing of a Fishing Cat at PKWS soon after the study was completed in retaliation for raiding fishing nets. This project seeks to estimate population abundance and status in PKWS, assess threats and work with all the relevant stakeholders to develop conservation measures to protect this newly found Fishing Cat population. The Team ProjecT Advisors Principal Investigator: Vanessa Herranz Muñoz. She participated in the 2015 CBC Fishing Cat survey as Consultant. The Kla Trey | Cambodian Fishing Cat Project research will form her PhD from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain).
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Conservation Society
    GUIDELINES SIX MONTH AND FINAL TECHNICAL REPORTS 1. PROJECT TITLE: Phylogeography of the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in India: identifying populations for conservation. 2. REPORTING PERIOD (END OF YEAR REPORT, PROVIDE START AND END DATES) START DATE: 1ST MARCH 2010 END DATE: 31ST MAY 2011 (WITH A NO COST EXTENTION) 3. REPORT SUMMARY – Briefly summarize the rationale, goals, objectives and issues that were addressed. Provide sufficient background information so that anyone unfamiliar with the project can understand its overall goals and objectives. This section should summarize your achievements of project objectives, or, if this is a six month report, it should summarize your progress towards achieving your stated objectives. The Report Summary should be written as if for an external audience (donors, press, etc.) — in a non-technical style and not to exceed 1000 words. India is home to 15 species of cats, the highest number any country has (Nowell and Jackson 1996). Yet, apart from the four big cats the small ones do not feature in any major research or conservation planning. Until now, for the most part information on small cats in India, including the fishing cat, has been in the form of natural history notes on distribution and habits, ad-hoc records on sightings and behaviour or short studies on diet and habitat use. The distribution of the fishing cat in India was unclear and recent surveys for mammals in some potential fishing cat habitats had not yielded any positive result. Even more alarming were the negative results obtained from areas such as Bharatpur which had several reports of fishing cats until a few years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations of Small Carnivores in Son Tra Nature Reserve, a Small and Isolated Protected Area in Central Vietnam
    Observations of small carnivores in Son Tra Nature Reserve, a small and isolated protected area in central Vietnam Ulrike STREICHER1 and Larry ULIBARRI2 Abstract Over half the 45.5 km² Son Tra peninsula in central Vietnam is a nature reserve. The peninsula has been isolated from other natural habitat by sea and urbanisation for decades. Various surveys since the 1960s have recorded Large-toothed Ferret Badger Melogale personata, Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Small Asian Mongoose Herpestes javanicus and Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis; and probably otter (Lutrinae) and Large Indian Civet Viverra zibetha, although the original basis for these two is not available. Several species typical of forest in this region and active at least in large part by day were not found, suggesting that they are possibly susceptible to hunting or need larger landscapes (or both). None of the surveys targeted small carnivores, so some species, particularly nocturnal ones, might have been overlooked. The easily accessible Son Tra KeywordsNature Reserve: breeding with seasonality,its unusually community, confiding wildlife fragmentation, is ideal for habitat wildlife change, and conservation Herpestes javanicus studies and, locality education. records, Melogale per- sonata, persistence Ghi nhận thú ăn thịt nhỏ ở Khu Bảo tồn Thiên nhiên Sơn Trà, một khu bảo vệ nhỏ và cô lập ở miền trung Việt Nam Tóm tắt Khoảng một nửa diện tích 45,5 km² của bán đảo Sơn Trà ở miền trung Việt Nam là môt khu bảo tồn. Bán đảo đã bị cô lập với các sinh cảnh tự nhiên khác bởi biển và các khu đô thị từ vài thập kỷ nay.
    [Show full text]
  • Pallas's Cat Status Review & Conservation Strategy
    ISSN 1027-2992 I Special Issue I N° 13 | Spring 2019 Pallas'sCAT cat Status Reviewnews & Conservation Strategy 02 CATnews is the newsletter of the Cat Specialist Group, Editors: Christine & Urs Breitenmoser a component of the Species Survival Commission SSC of the Co-chairs IUCN/SSC International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is pub- Cat Specialist Group lished twice a year, and is available to members and the Friends of KORA, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri, the Cat Group. Switzerland Tel ++41(31) 951 90 20 For joining the Friends of the Cat Group please contact Fax ++41(31) 951 90 40 Christine Breitenmoser at [email protected] <[email protected]> <[email protected]> Original contributions and short notes about wild cats are welcome Send contributions and observations to Associate Editors: Tabea Lanz [email protected]. Guidelines for authors are available at www.catsg.org/catnews This Special Issue of CATnews has been produced with Cover Photo: Camera trap picture of manul in the support from the Taiwan Council of Agriculture's Forestry Bureau, Kotbas Hills, Kazakhstan, 20. July 2016 Fondation Segré, AZA Felid TAG and Zoo Leipzig. (Photo A. Barashkova, I Smelansky, Sibecocenter) Design: barbara surber, werk’sdesign gmbh Layout: Tabea Lanz and Christine Breitenmoser Print: Stämpfli AG, Bern, Switzerland ISSN 1027-2992 © IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group The designation of the geographical entities in this publication, and the representation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Asiatic Golden Cat in Thailand Population & Habitat Viability Assessment
    Asiatic Golden Cat in Thailand Population & Habitat Viability Assessment Chonburi, Thailand 5 - 7 September 2005 FINAL REPORT Photos courtesy of Ron Tilson, Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program (golden cat) and Kathy Traylor-Holzer, CBSG (habitat). A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Traylor-Holzer, K., D. Reed, L. Tumbelaka, N. Andayani, C. Yeong, D. Ngoprasert, and P. Duengkae (eds.). 2005. Asiatic Golden Cat in Thailand Population and Habitat Viability Assessment: Final Report. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN. IUCN encourages meetings, workshops and other fora for the consideration and analysis of issues related to conservation, and believes that reports of these meetings are most useful when broadly disseminated. The opinions and views expressed by the authors may not necessarily reflect the formal policies of IUCN, its Commissions, its Secretariat or its members. The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. © Copyright CBSG 2005 Additional copies of Asiatic Golden Cat of Thailand Population and Habitat Viability Assessment can be ordered through the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA (www.cbsg.org). The CBSG Conservation Council These generous contributors make the work of CBSG possible Providers $50,000 and above Paignton Zoo Emporia Zoo Parco Natura Viva - Italy Laurie Bingaman Lackey Chicago Zoological Society Perth Zoo Lee Richardson Zoo -Chairman Sponsor Philadelphia Zoo Montgomery Zoo SeaWorld, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • The 2008 IUCN Red Listings of the World's Small Carnivores
    The 2008 IUCN red listings of the world’s small carnivores Jan SCHIPPER¹*, Michael HOFFMANN¹, J. W. DUCKWORTH² and James CONROY³ Abstract The global conservation status of all the world’s mammals was assessed for the 2008 IUCN Red List. Of the 165 species of small carni- vores recognised during the process, two are Extinct (EX), one is Critically Endangered (CR), ten are Endangered (EN), 22 Vulnerable (VU), ten Near Threatened (NT), 15 Data Deficient (DD) and 105 Least Concern. Thus, 22% of the species for which a category was assigned other than DD were assessed as threatened (i.e. CR, EN or VU), as against 25% for mammals as a whole. Among otters, seven (58%) of the 12 species for which a category was assigned were identified as threatened. This reflects their attachment to rivers and other waterbodies, and heavy trade-driven hunting. The IUCN Red List species accounts are living documents to be updated annually, and further information to refine listings is welcome. Keywords: conservation status, Critically Endangered, Data Deficient, Endangered, Extinct, global threat listing, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable Introduction dae (skunks and stink-badgers; 12), Mustelidae (weasels, martens, otters, badgers and allies; 59), Nandiniidae (African Palm-civet The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the most authorita- Nandinia binotata; one), Prionodontidae ([Asian] linsangs; two), tive resource currently available on the conservation status of the Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis and allies; 14), and Viverridae (civ- world’s biodiversity. In recent years, the overall number of spe- ets, including oyans [= ‘African linsangs’]; 33). The data reported cies included on the IUCN Red List has grown rapidly, largely as on herein are freely and publicly available via the 2008 IUCN Red a result of ongoing global assessment initiatives that have helped List website (www.iucnredlist.org/mammals).
    [Show full text]
  • 3. Aonyx Congicus Red List 2020
    Aonyx congicus - Lönnberg, 1910 ANIMALIA - CHORDATA - MAMMALIA - CARNIVORA - MUSTELIDAE - Aonyx - congicus Common Names: Congo Clawless Otter (English), Cameroon Clawless Otter (English), Kleinkrallen- Fingerotter (German), Kongo-Fingerotter (German), Loutre à joues blanches du Cameroun (French), Loutre à joues blanches du Congo (French), Nutria Inerme de Camerún (Spanish; Castilian), Paraonyx tacheté (French), Small-clawed Otter (English), Small-toothed Clawless Otter (English), Zaire Clawless Otter (English) Synonyms: No Synonyms Taxonomic Note: Allen (1924) and Davis (1978) treated A. capensis and A. congicus as being conspecific, arguing that they represent clinal variations of the same species. However, mainly based on tooth size and skin differences, Rosevear (1974), Van Zyll de Jong (1987), Wozencraft (1993), and Larivière (2001) considered A. capensis and A. congicus as separate species, but this remains debated, and Wozencraft (2005) did not retain A. congicus as a valid species, contrary to the opinion of the IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group (www.otterspecialistgroup.org) (Jacques et al. 2009). The name Aonyx congica is often found in the literature but A. congicus is the correct spelling as Aonyx, from the Greek ‘onux’, is masculine (Van Bree et al. 1999). Red List Status NT, A3cde (IUCN version 3.1) Red List Assessment Assessment Information Date of Assessment: 31/01/2020 Reviewed: 27/02/2020 Assessor(s): Jacques, H., Reed-Smith, J., Davenport, L. & Somers, M.J. Reviewer(s): Hussain, S.A., Duplaix, N. Contributor(s): Hoffmann, M. Facilitators/Compilers: NA Assessment Rationale All of Africa's otter species are threatened by alteration and/or degradation of freshwater habitats and riparian vegetation which are the preferred settlements of human population.
    [Show full text]
  • Fishing Cat Conservation and Research Project
    Cat Project of the Month – December 2009 The IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group's website (www.catsg.org) presents each month a different cat conservation project. Members of the Cat Specialist Group are encouraged to submit a short description of interesting projects Fishing Cat Conservation and Research Project The Fishing Cat Research and Conservation Project identifies viable populations of fishing cats in Southeast Asia supports direct action to conserve those populations. The project does this by conducting field research, supporting effective habitat management, and by initiating and supporting education and outreach activities. Namfon Cutter is the director of this project and is currently conducting field research as part of a MSc. Degree program in the University of Minnesota’s Conservation Biology Graduate Program. Namfon has been a member of the Cat SG since fall 2009. namfon@conservation asia.org Passanan Cutter, submitted: November 2009 project PI (Photo P. Cutter) Detail from a poster inviting the public to get to know more about the kodkod cat (Photo F. Vidal). Background The Fishing Cat Research and Conservation Project has four components, each contributing to fishing cat conservation in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia. • The first of these is a regional review of fishing cat distribution and conservation status involving the compilation of all current and historical data on fishing cat occurrence throughout Southeast Asia. • The project's second component is a detailed ecological study of fishing cats in their natural habitat. This component of the project will provide biologists with a solid foundation upon which to plan subsequent ecological research and conservation efforts.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatio-Temporal Coexistence of Sympatric Mesocarnivores with a Single Apex Carnivore in a fine-Scale Landscape
    Global Ecology and Conservation 21 (2020) e00897 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Global Ecology and Conservation journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/gecco Original Research Article Spatio-temporal coexistence of sympatric mesocarnivores with a single apex carnivore in a fine-scale landscape Guojing Zhao a, b, c, d, e, 1, Haitao Yang a, b, c, d, e, 1, Bing Xie a, b, c, d, e, * Yinan Gong a, b, c, d, e, Jianping Ge a, b, c, d, e, Limin Feng a, b, c, d, e, a Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China b National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology of Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China c National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China d Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China e College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China article info abstract Article history: Mesocarnivores uniquely and profoundly impact ecosystem function, structure, and dy- Received 23 July 2019 namics. Sympatric species tend to spatially and temporally partition limited resources to Received in revised form 22 December 2019 facilitate coexistence. We investigated the seasonal spatial and temporal cooccurrences Accepted 22 December 2019 among six mesocarnivores, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Asian badger (Meles leucurus), Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), masked palm Keywords: civet (Paguma larvata) and yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), as well as a single Camera trap apex predator (Northern Chinese leopard, Panthera pardus japonensis).
    [Show full text]
  • Hybrid Cats’ Position Statement, Hybrid Cats Dated January 2010
    NEWS & VIEWS AAFP Position Statement This Position Statement by the AAFP supersedes the AAFP’s earlier ‘Hybrid cats’ Position Statement, Hybrid cats dated January 2010. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) strongly opposes the breeding of non-domestic cats to domestic cats and discourages ownership of early generation hybrid cats, due to concerns for public safety and animal welfare issues. Unnatural breeding between intended mates can make The AAFP strongly opposes breeding difficult. the unnatural breeding of non- Domestic cats have 38 domestic to domestic cats. This chromosomes, and most commonly includes both natural breeding bred non-domestic cats have 36 and artificial insemination. chromosomes. This chromosomal The AAFP opposes the discrepancy leads to difficulties unlicensed ownership of non- in producing live births. Gestation domestic cats (see AAFP’s periods often differ, so those ‘Ownership of non-domestic felids’ kittens may be born premature statement at catvets.com). The and undersized, if they even AAFP recognizes that the offspring survive. A domestic cat foster of cats bred between domestic mother is sometimes required cats and non-domestic (wild) cats to rear hybrid kittens because are gaining in popularity due to wild females may reject premature their novelty and beauty. or undersized kittens. Early There are two commonly seen generation males are usually hybrid cats. The Bengal (Figure 1), sterile, as are some females. with its spotted coat, is perhaps The first generation (F1) female the most popular hybrid, having its offspring of a domestic cat bred to origins in the 1960s. The Bengal a wild cat must then be mated back is a cross between the domestic to a domestic male (producing F2), cat and the Asian Leopard Cat.
    [Show full text]
  • Small Carnivores of Karnataka: Distribution and Sight Records1
    Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 104 (2), May-Aug 2007 155-162 SMALL CARNIVORES OF KARNATAKA SMALL CARNIVORES OF KARNATAKA: DISTRIBUTION AND SIGHT RECORDS1 H.N. KUMARA2,3 AND MEWA SINGH2,4 1Accepted November 2006 2 Biopsychology Laboratory, University of Mysore, Mysore 570 006, Karnataka, India. 3Email: [email protected] 4Email: [email protected] During a study from November 2001 to July 2004 on ecology and status of wild mammals in Karnataka, we sighted 143 animals belonging to 11 species of small carnivores of about 17 species that are expected to occur in the state of Karnataka. The sighted species included Leopard Cat, Rustyspotted Cat, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Asian Palm Civet, Brown Palm Civet, Common Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Stripe-necked Mongoose and unidentified species of Otters. Malabar Civet, Fishing Cat, Brown Mongoose, Nilgiri Marten, and Ratel were not sighted during this study. The Western Ghats alone account for thirteen species of small carnivores of which six are endemic. The sighting of Rustyspotted Cat is the first report from Karnataka. Habitat loss and hunting are the major threats for the small carnivore survival in nature. The Small Indian Civet is exploited for commercial purpose. Hunting technique varies from guns to specially devised traps, and hunting of all the small carnivore species is common in the State. Key words: Felidae, Viverridae, Herpestidae, Mustelidae, Karnataka, threats INTRODUCTION (Mukherjee 1989; Mudappa 2001; Rajamani et al. 2003; Mukherjee et al. 2004). Other than these studies, most of the Mammals of the families Felidae, Viverridae, information on these animals comes from anecdotes or sight Herpestidae, Mustelidae and Procyonidae are generally records, which no doubt, have significantly contributed in called small carnivores.
    [Show full text]