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Hatfield, R.S.; Mwaura, J.; Musila, S.; O'Meara, L.
The first confirmed record of African golden cat _Caracal aurata_ from Kenya since 1946
2019 Journal of East African Natural History (108): 49-55
The African golden cat _Caracal aurata_ is a Vulnerable species and is considered Africa's least known felid. The species is restricted to the forested habitats in equatorial Africa, with Kenya at the eastern limit of the species' distribution. Its status in Kenya is unknown and the latest confirmed records date back to 1946, when two skins were collected by A. Toschi. All other records have not been confirmed. On 19 May 2019, a dead cat, presumably killed by a vehicle, was found beside the section of the Kamae-Thika road that bisects the Kieni Forest Reserve in the southern Aberdares. It was immediately identified as a possible _C. aurata_ and taken to National Museum of Kenya, where it was confirmed to be _C. aurata_ by field experts. This is the first confirmed record of _C. aurata_ for Kenya since 1946, and the first record of this species east of the Eastern Rift Valley.
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