Mainland Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis

The Mainland Leopard Cat, also known as the Indian Leopard Cat, is a small wild cat native to Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and grassland-forest mosaics. The species is primarily distributed across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and further east into Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, and southern China.

The Mainland Leopard Cat has a sleek, slender body with a coat that varies in color from light yellowish-brown to grayish, adorned with distinctive dark spots and rosettes, giving it a leopard-like appearance. It has large, rounded ears, a long tail with dark rings, and sharp, retractable claws.

This cat is mostly nocturnal and solitary, hunting small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. It is an agile climber and is often found in trees or dense undergrowth, where it ambushes its prey.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

IWLPA: Schedule I

CITES: Appendix I