Leopard cat

Leopard cat has been spotted in Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve for first time.

• Leopard cat with the scientific name Prionailurus bengalensis belongs to the family Felidae and is known for its striking resemblance to leopards in terms of body colour.
• It is the most widespread species after the jungle cat in India due to its “adaptive flexibility” and is restricted to North East India, northern Himalayan states, West Bengal, Odisha, and pockets of Western Ghats.
• It was believed to be absent in central India.

ABOUT PENCH TIGER RESERVE

• The Pench Tiger Reserve is situated in Maharashtra which gets its name from the Pench river is spread over 740 sq km.
• The flora is predominantly dominated by teak trees in the reserve.
• The Reserve shows corridor connectivity with the Melghat Tiger Reserve to the west, Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve to the southeast, Pench Tiger Reserve (MP) to the north, and Kanha Tiger Reserve (MP) to the northeast which facilitates wildlife movement across landscapes
• Nation hosts 15 species of wild cats accounting for over 40% of global field diversity.
• The leopard cat characterized by its adaptive flexibility holds the status of being the second most prevalent felid species in India after the jungle cat.