The Asian golden cat resides in the interior of Asia's dense forests and is a seldom-seen cat referred to as the Asiatic golden cat or Temminck's cat. Despite weighing no more than 35 pounds (16 kilograms), this predator is bold enough to take down prey like buffalo calves, muntjacs and baby deer. It is known for plucking birds before eating them and is sometimes described as a “feline of many costumes” because of its wide range of coat colours.
Camera trap footage reveals golden-brown and reddish-brown as the most common shades, but grey, pale cinnamon, melanistic and ocelot-like patterns also occur. According to the International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC), there is no evidence linking these colour variations to specific regions.
How Does the Asian Golden Cat Hunt and Live?
Though it prefers hunting on the ground, the Asian golden cat is an agile climber and uses a powerful neck bite to kill larger prey. While once believed to be nocturnal, recent observations suggest its activity peaks at twilight. These cats can survive up to 20 years and inhabit areas from sea level to 14,050 feet (4,282 metres), according to a 2016 biodiversity survey in Bhutan. Such findings indicate that high-altitude regions could be key habitats for the species.
The cat’s range is about 20% larger than that of the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), despite overlapping habitats and similar behaviour. It also appears in open rocky landscapes and is even called “rock cat” in parts of China, ISEC reports.
What Threatens This Rare Cat's Survival?
Although it is adaptable, the Asian golden cat is increasingly threatened. Habitat loss due to deforestation caused by oil palm, coffee and rubber plantations has been most severe in Southeast Asia, which has some of the worst forest clearing rates in the world, ISEC warns.
Illegal hunting is also a primary threat. Poachers hunt the species for its fur and bones, which are used in traditional medicine, and its flesh, which is a delicacy in some areas. Conflicts with agriculturalists also endanger the species, as attacks on livestock sometimes result in revenge killing.
With its habitat dwindling and human threats increasing, the Asian golden cat's future is far from clear. Conservationists report that immediate conservation efforts are necessary to safeguard this evasive predator before it disappears from Asia's forests.
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