IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Akash, M.; Zakir, T.; Ahmed, S.; Biswas, J.; Debbarma, H.; Alam, M.S.; Guala, C.; Islam, T. | |
| Camera trapping insights into leopard cat movement in eastern Bangladesh | |
| 2022 Cat News (75): 18-23 | |
Riparian, hilly, trans-border mixed-evergreens of eastern Bangladesh and Tripura, India, present an uncharted territory where carnivore research is non-existent. To address the issue, in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021, we conducted camera-trapping in three reserve forests that also hold protected areas, PAs: Raghunandan Hill Reserve (RHR, category II PA), Tarap Hill Reserve (THR, category IV PA and Key Biodiversity Area), and West Bhanugach Reserve (WBR, category II PA). We surveyed RHR in both rounds; THR and WBR in 2020-21. Herein, by sampling for 4,216 trap nights, we present our observations on the movement of the leopard cat _Prionailurus bengalensis_. We obtained 128 notionally independent capture events of the species (99 in RHF, 28in THR, 1 in WBR; 56 in 2018-2019, 72 in 2020-2021); of which, 16 capture events (8 in RHF, 8 in THR) were of mother-and-cubs. We made an inter-site comparison, also compared the activities of single individuals to that of mother-and-cubs. In RHR, we observed cats' responses to human activity and free-roaming livestock. Altogether, the cat appeared nocturnal with a bimodal crepuscular activity peak. We observed diurnal activities (13:30-16:00 h); however, mother-and-cubs exhibited strict avoidance. In 2020-21, anthropogenic movement skyrocketed in RHR; in response, the cat reduced its activity at dawn and showed a night-time peak. This work is the second only on leopard cats in Bangladesh, and a first in the region. The finding, despite showcasing breeding populations, is a testament to man-made impacts on small cats. We suggest a yearly camera-trapping programme, and a curb on anthropogenic movement as eastern forests are subject to heavy, unmonitored usage. |
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