First photographic record of marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata Martin, 1837 (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae) in Nepal

By

Lama, Sonam Tashi
Ross, James
Bista, Damber
Sherpa, Ang Phuri
Regmi, Ganga Ram
Suwal, Madan Krishna
Sherpa, Pema
Weerman, Janno
Shrestha, Shrota
Thapa, Madhuri
Poudyal, Laxman Prasad
Paterson, Adrian

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

32

Pages

19-34

Subjects

Eastern Himalayas , Marbled cat , Nepal , Pardofelis marmorata , small cats , trail camera

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.32.29740

 

Abstract

The marbled catPardofelismarmoratais a Near Threatened small felid. The cat’s presence in Nepal is based on an anecdote. A camera trap-based study to access diversity and abundance of terrestrial mammals in eastern Nepal accumulated 3,014 camera trap days and resulted in 5,176 photographs of 17 medium-large sized mammal species. Amongst them, a marbled cat was captured at a single camera trap station in January 2018. The camera trap-capturing the marbled cat was located in the secondary forest at an altitude of 2,750 m a.s.l., dominated by free-ranging cattle close to a permanent human settlement (1.4 km) and a temporary cattle herding camp (0.4 km). This is the first photographic evidence of a marbled cat in Nepal. In this survey, we also recorded three other felid species: common leopardPantherapardus, Asiatic golden-catCatopumatemminckiiand leopard catPrionailurusbengalensis. We recommend detailed year-round camera trap surveys in the mid-hills of eastern Nepal along with research on adaptation of the small felids to human-dominated areas and assessment of immediate threats for preparing sound conservation management plans of the marbled cat and its sympatric species. Initiation of conservation programmes engaging localdokpa(herders) is necessary.