Scientific Reports Study Estimates India's Jungle Cat Population at Over 3 Lakh

Key facts

• A study published in Scientific Reports estimates the countrywide population of jungle cats (Felis chaus) in India to be between 1.57 lakh and 4.59 lakh individuals.
• The jungle cat is protected under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, which prohibits hunting or trading of the species.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List currently categorises the species as being of least concern.
• Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha are the states estimated to support the largest populations of jungle cats across 21 states with suitable habitats.
• The research indicates that jungle cats prefer agro-pastoral and open habitats over dense forests and provide ecological services by controlling rodent populations in farms.
• Identified threats to the species include habitat fragmentation, speeding vehicles on highways, poaching, and stray dogs that act as sources of disease and kleptoparasitism.
• The study was co-authored by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS).