IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Izawa, M.; Doi, T.; Okamura, M.; Nakanishi, N.; Murayama, A.; Hiyama, T.; Oh, D.; Teranishi, A.; Suzuki, A. | |
| Toward the Survival of Two Endangered Felid Species of Japan | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
There are two small-sized wild felids in Japan: the Iriomote cat, _Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis_ endemic to Iriomote island (284 km2), and the Tsushima leopard cat, _P. b. euptilura_ occurring on Tsushima islands (710 km2). Population size was estimated as ca. 100 individuals for both felids now, and the Iriomote cat is categorized as "Endangered" on the Red List by IUCN (2000) and both as "Endangered" on RL by the Ministry of Environment of Japan (2002). Urgent implementation of the conservation programs and the collection of basic biological data for each species are indispensable to the future survival of Japanese wild cats. Ecological characteristics of two felids were partly different because of different climates, habitats, and fauna on respective islands. Population trend is also different in the two felids. Population size of the Iriomote cat is almost stable and that of the Tsushima leopard cat has decreased during these three or four decades. Although some conservational issues are common, clear difference in human activity between two islands caused different categories and seriousness of conservational issues related to the two species. We compared the situation of two felids and suggest necessary conservation program based on basic biological data. |
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