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Leopard Cat Range

This leopard cat range (distribution) is set out in the
embedded map below, which I made
using Google My Maps. The map can
be moved around by holding down left click while moving the
mouse and also zoomed in and out using the buttons. The blue flags can
be clicked for information. My map is:
- based on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ (Red List) map - the
most up to date map and;
- it is an open
collaboration project (anyone can refine it) and it is public
This means that it is designed to refined by any visitor who is willing
and able and there probably aren't too many people like that but there
are some. The original customized Google map can be see here: Leopard Cat Range 2009.
This opens in a new window. For people who want to refine it, please be
careful! The video below tells you how to get started using Google My
Maps:
I am hopeful that over time, perhaps years, the map will be improved
gradually and adjusted as knowledge is shared. There is the inevitable
change, anyway, as the ranges of all the wildcats are slowly (sometimes
rapidly) being reduced by human population growth and accompanying
activity encroaching into the domain of the wild cats.
Map
Map
Channels: free mapping tools
The leopard cat is also called the Asian leopard cat. It is worth
noting that this cat's distribution according to Wild Cats Of The World
(Sunquists) has been eroded by human activity over the last 7 years
since publication of the book. However, the range is not substantially
reduced which is surprising.
The largest loss of habitat has occurred in eastern China. Also the
range was marked up differently by the Sunquists in respect of India,
where according to the Red List there is a substantial "hole" in the
range in India in the middle of the country whereas before according to
the Sunquists the lack of range was in the east and not the center of
the country.
The leopard cat has the largest range of the small Asian wild cats. It
occupies forests in countries/places that include (at 2002 according to
Sunquists):
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Borneo
- Malaysia
- Thailand
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Laos
- Cambodia
- China
- Taiwan
- Korea
- Russia (Amur
basin, where the cat is known as the "Amur forest cat"). Here it
occupies river areas and valleys and lives in deciduous broad-leaved
forests.
- Bangladesh
- Assam
(a northeastern state of India)
- Foothills of the
Himalayas
- Jammu
- Kashmir
- Pakistan
- India
The Red List would add the following:
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Nepal
- Vietnam
- Singapore
The
leopard cat range may include Macao.

This is a frightened Asian leopard kitten - notice the flattened ears
followed by a hiss. Nice pic but I get upset when I see this.
So what is it like, on the ground so to speak, within this wide range?
The leopard cat range extends from 1000 metres above sea level to 3,000
metres (limited to areas where snow settles to a depth of less than 10
centimetres). It has adapted to living on farmland, plantations,
settlements and coastal islands. It appears that they have swum out to
islands to colonise them proving their excellent swimming abilities.
This cat likes forest cover both for protection and prey. Prey is more
likely to be in areas where there is water and forests. They dislike
arid regions and where there is a lack of cover.
Its secretive nature has aided survival and it is difficult to spot in
dense cover. Living in forests has resulted in an athletic ability to
climb and they can hunt rodents 3 to 4 meters off the ground with ease
and confidence. They rest in trees and also on the ground in
dense
ground cover. Despite its climbing skills, the leopard cat is described
as "terrestrial" by the Red List people.
Leopard
Cat Range to Asian Leopard Cat
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