Snow leopard (irbis)

Euroasia

Panthera 

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The snow leopard has white-gray or gray-brown fur with dark gray or black spots and rosettes with pale centers, making it great for camouflaging in mountain environments. In winter the fur becomes thick and long providing protection even in extremely cold conditions. Its head, neck and limbs are black spotted, with two dark lines extending from its neck to its tail. The snow leopard has light green or gray eyes. It has short rounded ears that are widely spaced, and the back of the ears are black with a light center. The snow leopard is adapted to living at high altitudes. It has an enlarged nasal cavity, short forelegs and well-developed chest muscles. It has long hind legs and large front paws that allow it to move more easily through the snow. Its fluffy tail is exceptionally long, reaching 1 m in length and making up 75-90% of its total body length. It is believed to help maintain balance on steep slopes.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Its occurrence is restricted to the high mountains of Central Asia, including the Altai, Tian Shan, Kun Lun, Pamir, Hindu Kush, Karakorum and Himalayas within 12 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The snow leopard mainly occupies alpine and subalpine zones where it is often found in steep terrain crisscrossed by cliffs, ridges, gorges, and rocky outcrops.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behavior</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The snow leopard is a solitary predator and is active mainly at dusk and dawn. It is well adapted to climbing steep and rocky alpine terrain.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Snow leopards communicate primarily through scent marking and scraping. The snow leopard's vocal folds are less developed than those of other panthers and lack a thick layer of fibrous-elastic tissue, so it cannot make low and intense "roars" like other big cats.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The snow leopard feeds primarily on wild sheep and goats, such as mountain nahur (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Pseudois nayaur</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">), Siberian goatsucker (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Capra sibirica</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">), screwhorn markur (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Capra falconeri</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">), wild sheep (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Ovis ammon</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">), mountain muskox (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Moschus chrysogaster</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">), and Himalayan tar (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Hemitragus jemlahicus</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">), and its range closely mirrors that of wild ungulates.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main threats are competition with livestock, habitat degradation, disappearance of prey, killing in retaliation and poaching for illegal trade (skins, bones and other body parts).</span></p>

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Threat category

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">vulnerable to extinction</span></p>

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Snow leopard

Cheetah

Africa

Acinonyx 

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cheetah has a fawn-coloured coat covered almost entirely in black, circular spots. Each cheetah has a unique pattern of spots, often used for identification. Cheetahs are easily identified by the heavy black lines extending from the inner corner of each eye to the outside corner of the mouth, often referred to as "tear lines".&nbsp;</span></p><h2><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Interesting facts</span></em></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The royal cheetah has much larger patches, often merging into stripes. This rare variation in colour pattern is the result of a unifocal recessive genetic mutation. Because it is a genetic mutation, the royal cheetah is not considered a subspecies. Individuals with this specific colour pattern are found in a small area of southern Africa.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cheetah is known for being the fastest land mammal. These cats have numerous morphological adaptations for speed - long limbs, strong thigh muscles and a very flexible spine, partially retractable claws that give extra grip when running and turning at high speed, and a long tail that helps the cheetah maintain balance while running.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cheetah has enlarged lungs, heart and nasal passages and smaller canines compared to other felines - the reduction in the size of the upper canine root allows for a larger nasal opening for increased air intake.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cheetah is currently found mainly in the drier parts of sub-Saharan Africa and is still fairly widely distributed in southern and eastern Africa, with two main areas in Namibia/Botswana and Kenya/Tanzania. However, their range is increasingly fragmented and severely restricted.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cheetah inhabits open grasslands and savannas. It is also found in dry forest, semi-desert, open woodland and shrubland, and is absent from tropical forests. In the central Sahara, the cheetah is found in high mountain habitats, where rainfall is slightly higher than in the surrounding desert.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cheetah is mainly active during the day. Recent observations have shown that cheetahs are surprisingly active at night. Activity is positively correlated with the amount of moonlight available.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The social organisation of cheetahs is unique among feline animals. After cheetahs leave their mothers, the male and female usually remain together for about six months before they separate and go their separate ways. After separation, females remain solitary, while males will either be alone or form a group with other males. Such coalitions usually consist of 2-3 males, usually related individuals, but may also be unrelated individuals.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cheetah prefers victims with a body weight in the range 10-56 kg. These include impala, Thomson's gazelles, springbok, warthogs and other antelopes, but it will also hunt smaller animals such as hares or birds. Coalitions of males often attack larger prey such as wildebeest or zebra antelope.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main threats to the cheetah are habitat loss and fragmentation, land use change, retaliatory killing and depletion of the food base, which often leads to increased predation on livestock and thus increased conflicts with humans.</span></p>

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Endangered category

body weight 

body length

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life span

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">up to 14 years, 20 years in captivity</span></p><p></p>

litter size

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">4-6 kittens</span></p>

caracal

Medium

Caracal 

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Caracal is a medium-sized cat with a slender, tall body and long legs. It is the biggest of the African small cats. The caracal's fur is short, fawn-brown to brick-red, without any pattern, and its underside is whitish. Dark lines and white spots are visible around the nose and eyes. It has triangular ears ending in tufts of hair 4-5 cm long. Its tail is short and measures about a third of its body length. It has stiff hairs between its pads as an adaptation for moving on sand. Like other desert species, the caracal has excellent eyesight and hearing.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The caracal has a wide range that extends from Africa to central and southwest Asia. It is found from Africa to Turkey through the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East to Turkmenistan and northwestern India. On the African continent, it is not found except in the tropical forests of western and central Africa and the deserts of Namibia and the central Sahara.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It lives in a variety of habitats and tolerates very dry conditions. It is found in semi-deserts, steppes, savannas, dry and moist forests or evergreen forests. It prefers open and drier areas and scrubland. Caracals are not found in real deserts.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The caracal is a solitary animal and has a mainly nocturnal lifestyle, but can also be active during the day, depending on the habitat and daytime temperature. In winter it increases its daytime activity.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The caracal is a generalist predator. It preys mainly on a variety of small and medium-sized mammals and birds. Its victim is usually animals weighing less than 5 kg, such as young antelopes, hares, rodents, birds, mice and sometimes invertebrates, fish and reptiles.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">One of the main threats to the caracal is habitat destruction. Hunting, trapping and poisoning are other major threats.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p>

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Threat category 

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">16-19 years</span></p><p></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">1-6 kittens</span></p>

Caracal

black-footed cat

Small

Felis

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The black-footed cat is one of the smallest cat species in the world and the smallest in Africa. The Black-footed Cat gets its name from its black pads and the underside of its paws. Its fur is fawn coloured and marked with black and brown spots, merging into broad stripes on its neck, legs and tail. The tail is relatively short with a black tip. The head of the Black-footed Cat is similar to that of the domestic cat, with large ears and eyes.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The black-footed cat is endemic to southern Africa and is found mainly in South Africa and Namibia, it also occurs in Botswana, and marginally in Zimbabwe. It is therefore a restricted species, with the most restricted range of any cat species in Africa.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The black-footed cat chooses grassland and semi-desert habitats, including arid open savannas.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The black-footed cat is an animal that lives mainly on the ground. It is a solitary predator, active at night. It travels an average of 8.4 km in search of food.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The black-footed cat's diet includes many types of prey. It feeds mainly on rodents such as mice and gerbils, small birds and invertebrates.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main threats to the black-footed cat are habitat degradation and non-selective pest control methods such as the use of poisons.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">do 16 lat w niewoli</span></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">1-4 kocięta</span></p>

Black-footed cat

nubian cat

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Nubian cat is the size of a large domestic cat. It has longer legs than the domestic cat, which gives it a more upright sitting posture. Its fur is short, ranging in shades from reddish to sandy or beige to greyish, usually marked with faint stripes and spots on the body and sides. Nubian cats have short snouts coloured orange around the nose and white patches below the eyes. The tail is long with three black rings and a dark tip. Its paw pads are black, as in the black-footed cat. The Nubian cat can be distinguished from the European wildcat by its lighter build, less distinct patterns and thin, tapering tail.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It is found in vast areas of Africa and on the edges of the Arabian Peninsula up to the Caspian Sea. It is found in all countries of eastern and southern Africa. In North Africa it occurs discontinuously from Morocco through Algeria, Tunisia and Libya to Egypt. In West Africa, it is widely distributed from Mauritania to the Horn of Africa, Sudan and Ethiopia.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Nubian cat has a very wide habitat tolerance and is found in deserts, semi-deserts, savannas, hilly, rocky, bushy and low-density forest, as well as in mixed forests.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Nubian cat is a solitary species, but can form temporary, large groups consisting of a female and her offspring from several successive litters. It is mainly active at night, especially in areas with hot climates or near human habitation.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main prey of the Nubian cat are rodents such as rats, mice and voles. It also hunts hares, rabbits, birds, insects, frogs, lizards, fish and occasionally martens, weasels, polecats and poultry. Occasionally attacks young antelopes or livestock.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Hybridisation with domestic cats is considered the main threat to the Nubian cat.</span></p>

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Nubian cat

african lion

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Two subspecies of lion are recognised:</span></p><p><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Panthera leo leo</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> - in central and western Africa and India</span></p><p><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Panthera leo melanochaita</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> - in southern and eastern Africa.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Lion is a very muscular and strong cat. The shoulders and front paws are particularly massive and powerful, allowing lions to hunt and overpower large prey. The lion has a even fawn coloration that blends in with the grassy cover of the savanna. Male lions have fringed tails and manes that vary from fairly sparse fur in hot and humid areas to very impressive manes in milder climates. The mane serves to attract females and is an indicator of the condition of the male lion. Young lions have pink noses that gradually become spotted with black spots as they mature. African lions have shorter fur and a less pronounced tail fringe than Asian lions.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">African lions live in scattered populations throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The lion prefers grassy plains and savannas, scrubby riversides and open forests with shrubs.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Lions are mainly active at night and dusk. They spend much of the day and night resting and are usually active for four to six hours a day. The lion is the most sociable of all cat species - it lives in complex social systems called herds and exhibits group territorial behaviour. Females cooperate with each other, a behaviour that is unique among cats. Herd leadership is usually exercised by a single male.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The lion is a predator that will settle for just about anything, but has a clear preference for medium to large ungulates (100-300 kg) such as wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, kudu and kobs. They also catch smaller antelopes such as gazelles and impalas quite frequently. In the case of very large prey such as rhinos, hippos or elephants they only hunt lost or weakened young or very weakened adults.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main threats to lions are retaliatory killing (using spears, firearms and poisons), a shrinking food base, poaching focused on meat extraction, and excessive or poorly managed trophy hunting.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">vulnerable</span></p>

African lion

pallas's cat

Otocolobus

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Pallas's Cat is a very distinctive cat with short legs, a compact body and a long coat that makes him look bigger than he is. The hair on the underside of the body is almost twice as long as on the top and sides, which keeps the cat warm in the extreme winter conditions typical of its habitat. The manula's coat color can vary from gray in the north of its range to yellow-brown or fox-red in some areas of the southern range. Color can also vary with the season. The tips of the hair are white and create a silvery, frosted appearance. The chin, neck and belly are white. The limbs are marked with a subtle horizontal stripe. The tail is thick and short with a black tip and several narrow black rings. The fur color provides excellent camouflage and helps the manula blend in with its surroundings. The manula's head is broad and flattened, and the ears are small, rounded, and well set. A pattern of small black spots is drawn on the forehead and dark and white stripes on the cheeks. The flat profile of the head is an adaptation for hunting in open country. Its eyes are surrounded by white and black lines and have a third eyelid that serves as protection from cold winds and dust storms that are common in its range.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Occurrence and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Pallas’s cat is found from Iran throughout Central Asia. It mainly inhabits the steppes of Mongolia, China and the Tibetan plateau. At the southwestern end of its range, it occurs in the Zagros and Alborz mountains of Iran. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is found in the Hindu-Kish-Hindu Raj mountains.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Pallas' cat inhabits mountain grasslands, shrub and grassy steppes, hilly terrain, rocky alpine deserts and semi-deserts. It is primarily associated with gentle steppes and southern slopes where deep snow cover does not accumulate.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behavior</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The manul is a solitary animal, active mainly at dusk, but can forage at any time of day or night. It uses caves, rock crevices or abandoned burrows of other animals such as marmots, foxes and badgers as shelter.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Small to medium-sized, non-wintering colony-forming mammals make up most of the Pallas cat's food. It feeds primarily on barks (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Ochotona spp.</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">) and small rodents such as gerbils (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Meriones spp.</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">), voles, hamsters, and jumpers (</span><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Dipus sagitta, Allactaga spp.</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">).</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Habitat fragmentation and degradation is currently considered the greatest threat to this species.</span></p><p><br></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">near threatened</span></p>

Pallas's cat

serval

Leptailurus

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Serval's coat is light yellow, yellow-brown or fawn with black spots. On the neck and shoulders the spots often merge into stripes. The underside of the body is whitish-yellow and spotless. With its slender and long legs and elongated neck, the serval is well adapted to hunting small prey in long grass. Its hind legs are longer than its front legs. It has agile paws and strong curved claws that are used to grasp mice and rats. The serval's head is small and delicate. Its ears are very large, set high and close together. The back of the ear is black with a distinct horizontal white stripe. The tail of the serval is relatively short.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The serval is found in 34 African countries. It inhabits sub-Saharan Africa except in tropical forests and deserts.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It inhabits a variety of grasslands such as reedbeds, swamps, grass savannas or wetlands, and forests. It prefers rather moist habitats and is often found along rivers.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The serval is a territorial loner. It is active mainly at dusk and at night, resting during the day. During the wet season, the serval also hunts during the day. Increased daytime activity is also observed in females with young.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main prey of the serval is small mammals, especially rodents and rats. It also preys on mice, birds, lizards and snakes, frogs, fish and insects.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main threat to the serval is the loss and degradation of wetland habitats caused mainly by increasing urbanisation and changes in land use. Such wetlands have high rodent densities compared to others and are the main habitat areas for the serval.</span></p>

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Tail 

Serval

Iberian lynx

Lynx 

<h2><span style="color: #000000">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Iberian lynx is half the size of the Eurasian lynx. Both in terms of ecology and average body weight, the Iberian lynx is very similar to the Canadian lynx. It has a small head, short body and long legs. Its tail is short with a black tip, and it has characteristic black brushes on its ears. The coat of the Iberian lynx is yellowish, reddish, grey or brownish and distinctly brown or black mottled. Its belly is only pale. The Iberian lynx has a conspicuous orifice, which is more pronounced in adults.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">Historically, the Iberian lynx was found in all parts of the Iberian Peninsula and was widely distributed, but became very rare in the early 20th century. Only two small populations remain - one in southwestern Spain, in Andújar-Cardeña in the eastern Sierra Morena, and a population in Doñana-Aljarafe, in and around the Doñana protected area.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">The Iberian lynx lives in Mediterranean forests composed of native oaks and abundant undergrowth, as well as in macchia scrub. It prefers a mosaic of dense thickets for shelter and open grassy areas for hunting.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Iberian lynx is mainly active at night and dusk, but can also be active during the day. The mating season is from January to July, with a peak in January-February.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000"> Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Iberian lynx is a specialised predator and hunts primarily (80-100%) European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Alternatively it hunts rodents, partridges, young deer and fallow deer, hares, ducks, geese, reptiles, etc. They also feed on fresh carrion.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Iberian lynx is highly vulnerable by nature as it is highly dependent on a single prey species, has a limited distribution and its habitat spectrum is narrow. Iberian lynx populations have declined due to a drastic reduction in its main prey, the rabbit, due to habitat changes, over-hunting and disease.</span></p>

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Body Weight 

Body length 

Tail length 

Eurasian lynx

<h2><span style="color: #000000">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">Eurasian lynx is the tallest of the lynx family. Individuals from the northern and eastern part of its range are generally larger than those from the south and west. The Eurasian Lynx has long legs and in winter its paws are more densely covered with fur, which acts as snowshoes and enables it to move more efficiently in deep snow. Its tail is short with a black tip. Its ears have a black back with a white spot with long black bristles. The fur of the Eurasian lynx can range in colour from grey to reddish or yellowish. The fur patterns vary from unique rosettes, to distinct spots that can be small or large. The belly, chest and underside of the Eurasian lynx are pale. The Central Asian subspecies L. l. isabellinus has a coat almost completely devoid of patterns.</span></p><h2> <span style="color: #000000">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Eurasian lynx has one of the largest ranges of all cat species. It is found from the Atlantic in western Europe through the boreal forests of Russia to Central Asia and the Tibetan plateau to the Pacific coast in the east. About 75% of its range is within the borders of Russia.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">The Eurasian lynx is found in a variety of environmental and climatic conditions. In general, the Eurasian lynx is mainly associated with forested areas that support good ungulate populations and provide sufficient cover for hunting.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Eurasian lynx is a solitary and territorial animal. It is active mainly at dawn and dusk. It is an efficient hunter. It can kill prey up to 3-4 times its own size.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Eurasian lynx feeds mainly on small and medium-sized ungulates such as roe deer, chamois, reindeer and musk deer. All lynx species hunt smaller prey such as lagomorphs. Occasionally, Eurasian lynx also attack larger ungulates such as deer, but in most cases these are juveniles.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">In Europe, the main threats to lynx are poaching, retaliatory killing, habitat loss and fragmentation, mainly due to infrastructure development, poor land management and accidental deaths in traffic accidents.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">In Asia, the main threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, mainly due to livestock farming, infrastructure development, resource extraction and logging, and poaching, mainly through retaliatory killing due to livestock killing or the fur trade.</span></p>

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European wildcat

<h2><span style="color: #000000">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The European wildcat is the size of a large domestic cat. It has a wide head and widely spaced ears. Wildcat's coat is thick and long in winter, grey-brown with a distinct pattern consisting of black stripes on the head, neck, limbs and a clear line along the back. Wildcats have a downy tail with several black rings and a black tip. Some individuals have a white patch on the throat. In winter fur, the wildcat's legs appear short and its build is compact; it actually has longer legs than most domestic cats.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Occurrence and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The European wildcat inhabits parts of Europe and Russia as far south as Central Asia.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">It is mainly associated with forest habitats and is most commonly found in deciduous or mixed forests. It also inhabits grassland and steppe habitats and can be found in Mediterranean macchia bushland, floodplain forests, marsh borders, along sea coasts or in very wet marshy areas.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">European wildcats are considered solitary predators, active mainly nocturnally and territorially. In areas with low human activity, wildcats are often active during the day, with activity increasing at dawn and dusk.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">European wildcats' main food is rodents such as rats, mice and voles. They have no particular species preference. In areas where rabbits occur, they may be the main prey of European wildcat.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">One of the main threats to European wildcats is hybridisation with domestic cats, which can lead to loss of genetic variation or loss of specific adaptations.</span></p>

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<p>10 years in the wild, 12-16 years in captivity</p>

Tibetan cat/Chinese mountain cat

<h2><span style="color: #000000">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">Tibetan cat has a stocky body and relatively short legs. In the Tibetan Highlands, locals call it "grass cat" because its coat corresponds to the color of dry grass. The Tibetan cat's coat is gray in winter and dark brown in summer. Its sides, limbs and cheeks are marked with light brown horizontal stripes. The lower lip, chin and belly are white, and the neck is pale brown. The ears are topped with brown brushes, and the back is pale yellow-brown. The Chinese mountain cat's tail is downy and brindle with a black tip.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Occurrence and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">It is endemic to China and has a limited range, occurring only on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">It lives at high altitudes and in areas with harsh, extreme conditions. The high mountain climate is dry, windy and very hot or very cold. The Chinese cat inhabits steppes, alpine grasslands and bushland.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Behavior</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">There is little information on the ecology, spatial distribution, habitat requirements and behavior of the Tibetan cat. It appears to be a solitary animal active at night or dusk. During the day it rests in caves dug by marmots or badgers, where it gives birth and raises its young.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">Rodents are the Tibetan cat's main prey. They mainly catch chars, voles, and barks. They also hunt birds such as pheasants and partridges.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">Chemicals used to control rodents can cause secondary poisoning in predators such as the Tibetan cat. Another threat is hunting for fur, which is mainly used locally for traditional hats and clothing.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Recent studies have raised concerns about the potential genetic introgression of domestic cats.</span></p>

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Life span 

Litter size 

Asiatic lion

Tropical Asia

<h2><span style="color: #000000">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The lion has a muscular body with very strong front paws. Its coloration varies from fawn and gray to yellowish red and dark brown. Its nose color becomes darker with age in both sexes, and its mane becomes more pronounced and darker over time. The Asiatic lion has a smaller and shorter mane than the African lion, so their ears are always visible. Male Asian lions have a more pronounced tuft of hair on their elbows than their relatives in Africa. The most striking feature, however, is the distinctive belly skin (belly fold) of the Asiatic lion, which is rarely seen in lions living in Africa.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Occurrence</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000"> Until the turn of the 20th century, the Asiatic lion was found only in the Gir forest in Gujarat, India. Today, lions are also found outside the Gir protected area, such as in the forests of Girnar, Mitiyala, the coastal areas of Sutrapada-Kodinar, Jafarabad-Rajula up to the Savarkundla and Palitatna hills.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">The Asiatic lion is found mainly in forest habitats, while the African lion inhabits mainly savannah ecosystems. Asiatic lions prefer moist mixed forests.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Behavior</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">Asiatic lions are mainly active at night and dusk. They spend most of the day resting. Like African lions, they live in a complex social system, but herd structure varies and even changes locally depending on resource availability. The herd size of Asiatic lions (measured by the number of adult females) tends to be smaller than in African lion populations.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Asiatic lion primarily hunts ungulates such as small deer and antelope.</span></p><h2><span style="color: #000000">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">Historically, Asiatic lions have been reduced to a single population due to hunting and habitat loss and fragmentation. Although these threats have been overcome through rigorous conservation, today the main threats are largely related to human-cat conflicts caused by their close proximity.</span></p>

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red lynx

Americas

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">There are two subspecies:</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Lynx rufus rufus</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Lynx rufus fasciatus</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The red lynx is a medium-sized cat. His name comes from his short tail, which measures on average only 14 cm. On the dorsal side of the tail there are black stripes and the underside is white, not black as in other lynx species. The red lynx looks very similar to the Canadian lynx, but has shorter ear tassels, shorter legs, smaller paws without heavily hairy undersides and a more stocky appearance. Its head is small and broad, surrounded by a collar of fur. The cat's fur is dense and soft, and its colour and patterns vary greatly between regions. The colour of the fur may be brown, yellow-brown, reddish or light grey; the pattern on the fur may be absent or expressed as brown or black spots or stripes. The belly and underside of the legs are light with dark spots.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The range extends from southern Canada through the United States to northern and central Mexico south to the state of Oaxaca.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It inhabits boreal coniferous and mixed forests, deciduous forests, coastal swamps, deserts and scrub. The most important habitat requirements of the red lynx are sufficient food and vegetation in which it can hide while hunting and resting.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The red lynx is a solitary species, feeding at dusk, but depending on its habitat they can be active during the day or at night. During hunting they use dense vegetation to ambush their victims. Lynx live on the ground, but are good climbers and escape to trees when they feel threatened.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The diet of the red lynx is very varied. In most areas its main victims are rabbits and hares, but it also hunts small rodents, rats, squirrels, beavers, birds, opossums, peccaries and sometimes small ungulates such as deer.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Habitat loss due to human activity is considered the main threat to the red lynx throughout its range.</span></p>

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threat category

body weight

body lenght

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">10-17 years</span></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">1-8 kittens</span></p>

Red lynx

Asian tiger 

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The tiger is the largest living species of cat and the only striped cat. It has a red-orange or yellow-brown coat with black stripes and a white belly. The pattern is unique to each individual. Males have a distinct orifice, especially in the Sumatran tiger.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The tiger's body is made for killing large ungulates. It has a relatively large skull, powerful body and tusks.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Occurrence and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Tigers live in scattered populations in 13 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Sumatra Island in the Republic of Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Russian Far East, Thailand, and Vietnam.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The tiger is found in a wide range of habitats, from the tropical evergreen and deciduous forests of South Asia to the conifer, oak and birch forests of the Russian Far East.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behavior</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The tiger is a solitary animal. Females have individual territories. Males are highly dispersed, and their territories often overlap. Tigers hunt on the ground. They often drag killed prey to their den to feed. They hide leftover prey that has not yet been eaten and return for it when they get hungry.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The tiger's main prey is large ungulates such as aksis, gaur, sambar, boar, and munjak. The tiger also hunts deer and peacocks.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Major threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">One of the biggest threats to the tiger is illegal hunting. They are killed for their skin, bones, meat and other body parts, especially traditional East Asian medicines.</span></p>

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 Threat category

Body length

Tail length

Mainland clouded leopard

Neofelis

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Misty Panther is a medium sized cat. It has relatively short, strong legs ending in wide paws. Its hind legs are much longer than its front legs, and its tail is exceptionally long (usually equal to its body length) and allows it to balance deftly on thin tree branches. The mistletoe panther has a fairly long skull, and along with its sister species, the sunday panther, have proportionally the longest canines of any cat. The fur patterns are cloud-like rosettes with dark edges and lighter centers, which were the inspiration for the species' name. The fur color can range from yellowish brown to silver gray to earthy brown or dark gray. Two dark stripes run along the spine, and the tail has 6 rings. The underside of the body is white or light brown, there are black spots on the limbs and underbelly, and two distinct dark stripes will be observed on the back of the neck.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Occurrence</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Found from the eastern and southern foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal, through Bhutan and India, to Myanmar, southern China, peninsular Malaysia and Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia).</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It inhabits the deepest areas of evergreen forests and is closely associated with primary tropical forests.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behavior</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The clouded leopard is a solitary predator recorded at all times of the day and night, but usually with slightly more activity at night or dusk. It moves easily among trees and is an excellent climber.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Feeds on woody and terrestrial vertebrates such as small deer, monkeys, squirrels, porcupines, scales, wild boar and birds. Occasionally they hunt domestic fowl and goats. They have no interest in carrion.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The greatest threat to the clouded leopard is habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation and conversion of land to agricultural land.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">1-2 kittens</span></p>

The Asian golden cat

Catopuma

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Asian golden cat is a medium sized cat with relatively long legs. It looks like an African golden cat (Caracal aurata). The most common fur color is golden or reddish brown, but it can be dark brown as well as gray.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The most distinctive features of this cat are the white lines with a dark brown or black outline that run down the cheeks and from the inner corners of the eyes to the top of the head. The ears are rounded with a black back and a gray spot. The chest, belly, and inside of the thighs are white with small spots. The legs and tail are gray or black at the distal ends. The terminal half of the tail is white on the underside and often carried with the tip curled upward.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Occurrence and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The range of the golden mormie is similar to that of the fog panther (Neofelis nebulosa), sunda panther (Neofelis diardi), and marbled leopard. It is found from the foothills of the Himalayas to China and Southeast Asia. It also inhabits Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It is found in a variety of forest habitats such as tropical and subtropical, moist evergreen mixed forests and dry deciduous forests.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behavior</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Little is known about the behavior of the golden mormie due to the poor understanding of the species. It was thought to be a primarily nocturnal active cat, but recent data indicates that it may also be active at dusk, as well as during the day.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The golden mormi is primarily a terrestrial hunter. It hunts a variety of species and appears to be a generalist and opportunistic predator. It is known to prey on amphibians, small reptiles (lizards, snakes), insects, birds, primates, poultry, and small ungulates such as munjac and duckbill.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Information on the golden mormie population and its status is lacking. The main threats appear to be habitat loss and changes due to deforestation in the range. Southeast Asian forests have the world's fastest regional rate of deforestation due to expansion of oil palm, coffee, acacia and rubber plantations.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Near threat</span></p><p><br></p>

<p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">1-3 kittens</span></p>

leopard

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Leopards vary greatly in size and colouration throughout their wide geographical range.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Leopards in Africa are usually the largest and can weigh up to 90 kg. Typically, leopard fur is yellowish to olive and black-spotted with unique patterns. Melanistic individuals are rare in Africa, but in humid forest habitats, as in Java and Malaysia, melanism is more common. The colour and patterns of leopard fur appear to be related to habitat type. Leopards inhabiting the savannah are fawn to ochre in colour, leopards in deserts are lighter to yellowish brown, and in colder regions are more greyish. Rainforest individuals are darker and golden in colour, while leopards living in high mountains are even darker than those in the rainforest.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The leopard has very muscular and relatively short legs with wide paws. It has a long body and a tail that helps in climbing trees. Despite its relatively small body size, the leopard is able to capture large prey. Its skull is massive, giving it plenty of room to attach its powerful jaw muscles. It has particularly long whiskers, and its eyebrows often contain several very long hairs to protect its eyes and help it move among vegetation in the dark.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The leopard's geographical range is quite wide. It inhabits Africa and Asia. Its range extends from sub-Saharan Africa with remnant populations in North Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula and the Sinai/Judean Desert, south-western and eastern Turkey, through south-western Asia and the Caucasus to the Himalayas, India, China and the Russian Far East. It is also found on the island of Java and in Sri Lanka.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It is found from tropical rain-forests to temperate deciduous and alpine areas, up to high mountain slopes, and in savannas, bushland, dry scrub, grasslands and deserts.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The leopard is a solitary and territorial predator. It is mainly active between sunset and sunrise, but populations in undisturbed rainforest areas show considerable activity during the day.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Habitat loss and fragmentation, declining food base, illegal wildlife trade, retaliatory killing and poorly managed trophy hunting are the main problems leading to leopard decline.</span></p><p><br></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">13-21 years</span></p>

Leopard

Canadian lynx

<h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Canadian Lynx is a medium-sized, long-legged cat. The hind legs of the Canada Lynx are much longer than the forelegs, and the front paws are larger than the hind paws. The paws have very dense fur growing between the pads, and because they are large and wide they act as snowshoes, allowing the Canada lynx to move through deep snow more easily than other coexisting carnivores. Its fur is reddish brown to grey-brown with distinct darker spots. The snout of the Canada lynx is surrounded by a collar of fur, and the ears with a black back are tipped with tassels.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The range of the Canada lynx includes most of Canada, where it still occupies 95% of its historic range, and parts of the northern United States, along the Rocky Mountains to Colorado. Its range overlaps with that of its main prey, the American hare Lepus americanus.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Canada lynx inhabits boreal forests covering most of Canada and Alaska.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Canada lynx is a solitary predator. As hare numbers decline, fewer lynx breed, producing smaller litters with few offspring. As hare numbers increase, lynx reproduction rates increase. Most births occur in late May and early June.</span></p><h2><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Interesting fact</span></em></h2><p><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">No other cat species is as strongly associated with their main prey as the Canada lynx is with the grey hare.</span></em></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Hunting</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Canada lynx is heavily dependent on American hares, which make up 60-97% of its diet. When snowshoe hare densities are low, the Canada lynx also preys on squirrels, grouse, mice and voles, small birds, and occasionally ungulates such as deer, sheep or caribou calves; squirrels are its main alternative prey.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Canada lynx is one of the best studied and monitored cat species. The main threats to the Canada lynx are habitat loss and fragmentation and environmental change due to agriculture, urbanisation and other industrial activities.</span></p>

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Weight

puma

Puma

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">There are two subspecies of puma:</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Puma concolor concolor in South America</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Puma concolor puma in North and Central America</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Appearance</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The puma has a rounded head, small rounded ears with a black-coloured back, a slender body, long legs and large paws. It has proportionally the longest hind legs among cats. The puma's coat is smooth and ranges in colour from silvery grey, fawn, reddish to dark brown. Only young pumas may have patterns such as stripes or spots. Melanism is common in these cats. The puma's tail is long with a black tip, and the chin, throat and belly are white. Males weigh 40-60% more than females and can reach a weight of over 100 kg.</span></p><h2><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Interesting fact</span></em></h2><p><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Pumas living in southern Chile and Canada weigh twice as much as pumas found in the tropics, where they must compete with jaguars that are larger than themselves.</span></em></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Distribution and habitat</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The puma has the largest geographic range of any native land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. It is found from British Columbia in Canada and the USA through Central and South America to the southern tip of Chile.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The cougar prefers complex habitats, including rocky, steep mountain ecosystems and diverse forests with undergrowth, but also occupies open habitats with minimal vegetation cover, such as the grasslands of Patagonia.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Behaviour</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The puma cannot roar, but is able to make a variety of sounds including chirps, hisses, growls and whistles. Pumas are solitary, displaying activity at night - most at dusk and dawn. The puma hunts on the ground, but he is a good climber. It hunts by tracking and attacking prey at close range. While hunting may travel long distances.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Food</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Pumas prey on insects, birds, mice, porcupines, capybara, pardas, deer, sheep and elk. In North America, pumas feed mainly on ungulates such as deer and elk, but also on smaller animals such as wild boar, raccoons, beavers and armadillos.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Main threats</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The main threats to pumas are habitat loss, fragmentation and persecution by humans.</span></p>