Important Species of India - Cats

The Tiger (Panthera tigris) :

The Tiger (Panthera tigris)

• The subspecies found in India is Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).
•  It is classified as endangered by IUCN.

Distribution : 

• The bengal tigers inhabit tropical moist evergreen forests, tropical dry forests, tropical and subtropical moist deciduous forests, mangroves, subtropical and temperate upland forests, and alluvial grasslands.  
• The major tiger conservation units in India are Manas-Namdapha, Hazaribagh National Park, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Kanha-Indravati, Panna National Park, Melghat Tiger Reserve, Ratapani Tiger Reserve,  Kaziranga-Meghalaya, Kanha-Pench, Simlipal, Indravati Tiger Reserves, Periyar, Kalakad-Mundathurai, Bandipur and Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.

Threats : 

• Habitat losses and the extremely large-scale incidences illegal trade in poached skins and body parts between India, Nepal and China. 
• There are well-organised gangs of professional poachers, who move from place to place and set up camp in vulnerable areas. 
• The Farmers living around the tiger conservation areas blame tigers for killing cattle and shoot them.

The Lion (Panthera leo) :

The Lion (Panthera leo) :

• The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) also known as the Indian Lion, is a subspecies of lion.
• It is classified as endangered by IUCN.

Distribution : 

• The only natural habitat in which the Asiatic lion is found is  Gir Forest of Gujarat in India.

Threats :  

• Habitat loss, 
• Poisoning for attacking livestock, 
• Human habitations around the Gir forest, 
• Presence of nomadic herdsmen known as Maldharis iside th forest with their cattle (overgrazing by the cattle), 
• Inbreeding and 
• Genetic pollution from African lions.

The Leopard (Panthera pardus) :

The Leopard (Panthera pardus)

• The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard subspecies.
• Classified as Near Threatened by IUCN since 2008.

Distribution : 

• Widely distributed on the Indian subcontinen.

Threats : 

• Habitat loss and fragmentation, 
• Heavy poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts in Asia, and
• Persecution due to conflict situations.

The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) :

• Extinct in India. 
• The Supreme Court of India suspended attempts to introduce African cheetahs following the publication of newer genetic evidence, which suggests that the Asian and African cheetahs separated between 32,000 and 67,000 years ago.

Distribution : 

• Extinct in India, few asiatic cheetahs are known to survive and Critically Endangered in Iran.

The Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) :

The Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

• Classified as vulnerable by IUCN. 
• Hunting is banned in Indian and other countries.

Distribution : 

• It is found in Himalayan foothills along with South east asia and china.

Threats :  

• Large scale deforestation, 
• Commercial poaching for the wildlife trade. 
• Skins, claws and teeth are offered for decoration and clothing, 
• Bones and meat as substitute for tiger in traditional Asian medicines and tonics, and 
• Live animals for the pet trade.

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) :

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

• Snow leopards usually live above the tree line on mountainous meadows and in rocky regions.
• It is a threatened species

Distribution : 

• Karakoram range, Kashmir, Kunlun range, and the Himalayas in India.

Threats : 

• Poaching for it's beautiful fur.
• Intensive grazing in the snow leopard habitat is leading to decrease in pray population.
• Mining.
• Killing for attacking livestock.
  

Other cat species found in India:

The Marbled Cat (Felis marmorata)

The Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis)

The Golden Cat (Felis temmincki)

The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus)

The Desert Cat (Felis libyca)

The Caracal (Felis caracal)

The Lynx (Felis lynx)

The Pallas cat (Felis manul)

The Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) 

References:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/
2. http://www.wildlifeindia.co.uk/wildlife-species-india/index.html