In between the size of the domestic cat and a fishing cat, the jungle cat (Felis chaus) has red-brown fur, speckled markings and hard-to-miss black stripes across the leg. It has a distinct appearance and is a highly adaptable and globally widespread hunter.
“They have infiltrated in wide ranging geographic zones across Sri Lanka and the world,” Senior Zoology Lecturer at Open University Dr. Kalinga Padmalal said. “It is found in every national park in Sri Lanka.” They have been found mummified in ancient Egypt, where an old civilisation kept them as pets.
The feline has broad geographic distribution in the Middle East and Asia. They haunt many habitats but prefer scrub areas and rocky outcrops. They love to hide in the grass and capture prey. Jungle cats can also swim, but are not as aquatic as fishing cats.
“There is an overlap with their range and that of other carnivores such as the fishing cat and rusty spotted cat in Sri Lanka. They live near human habitation, but you can’t necessarily say that they live in urban areas. Some were recently spotted in Negombo and Katunayake,” Dr. Padmalal said.
Main competitors
According to wildlife biologist Chandika Jayaratne, jackals are one of the main competitors for jungle cats. Both feed on small rodents, black naped hares, frogs and birds. He said, “They have great hearing and are excellent jumpers: this is reflected in their anatomy, especially if you notice the long limbs.” Dr. Yasin Ünal of Isparta University noted on observations in Turkey, “It usually waits by lakes, preying on fish that come to shallow waters.”
They can climb a tree facing downwards: a pose which regular domestic cats struggle with. These curious critters also hunt more in daytime than other felines. Nikolai Spassov, a researcher who worked with the largest subspecies from the Caucasus, in the mountain nation of Azerbaijan said, “This is a highly secretive predator. During our two field expeditions to Azerbaijan, we saw traces and excrement in three places, but not the animal itself. At the same time, our camera-traps detected it several times in three spots.”
Easier to spot
According to Nepalese conservationist Rabin Karadiya, “It is easier to see than some of the other cat species in the country. We have observed them in highland and lowland areas. Occasionally, they are bold enough to raid villages to steal chickens.”
In the wild, males usually play no role in rearing the young. But in captivity, they have been observed being very protective of their kittens - more so than in other felines. Jungle cats can hybridise with domestic cats to produce chausies. The hybrid males are sterile, while females are usually fertile. It is possible that ancient Egyptians were the first people to hybridise these felines.
Experiential manager at Jetwing Vil Uyana, Chaminda Jayasekara said that there is a “Good chance of seeing them here. There is a higher chance of seeing jungle cats and fishing cats than the smaller rusty spotted cat.”