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Flat-headed cat, the world's least known feline, is now endangered
mnn ^ | Mar 23 2010 | Bryan Nelson

Posted on 03/23/2010 12:15:57 PM PDT by JoeProBono

If you believe the myth that all cats hate getting wet, then you've yet to meet the flat-headed cat. With webbed feet and a streamlined head perfectly adapted for speed in the water, these strange felines not only like the water, they practically live in it. They are also recognized as the world's least known feline.

And unfortunately, they may remain mysterious. According to National Geographic, a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE has indicated that the flat-headed cat's habitat is rapidly being transformed into vast biofuel plantations.

Native to the swampy peat forests of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the cats are nocturnal, elusive, tiny (they typically weigh between 3-5 pounds) and difficult to observe. There are also only two flat-headed cats in captivity anywhere in the world — both in zoos in Malaysia — so little is known about them.

To get an idea of how their population was faring, researchers pieced together scattered records of flat-headed cat sightings since 1984. They also developed a computer model to predict how the cat's historical population and distribution might be effected by modern changes to their habitat.

What they found was shocking. Almost 70 percent of the area that historically provided good habitats for the flat-headed cat has already been converted into plantations, mostly for the purpose of growing biofuel.

(Excerpt) Read more at mnn.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: alinskyscat; andreaswilting; bryannelson; carbontax; cat; catkitties; energy; feline; flatheadedcat; indonesia; irony; jpb; kenyanbornmuzzie; kittyping; leftistagitprop; leibnizinstitute; malaysia; mothernaturenetwork; opec; thailand
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MADE TO SWIM: The flat-headed cat is designed for hunting in the water, and its diet consists mostly of crabs and fish.

A flat-headed cat was snapped by a camera trap in Tangkulap Forest Reserve, Malaysia, in March 2009.


1 posted on 03/23/2010 12:15:58 PM PDT by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono

Cute kitty, there.


2 posted on 03/23/2010 12:17:09 PM PDT by James C. Bennett
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To: JoeProBono
Growing biofuel threatens endangered species!!!

The Greenies will get right on this.

3 posted on 03/23/2010 12:19:48 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (I do not want the Union to be maintained. I want the US to break up. I support secession.)
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To: JoeProBono

In Darwinism, they call “endangered” “natural selection.”

Ever notice how libs love Darwin but hate seeing it in action?


4 posted on 03/23/2010 12:20:01 PM PDT by bolobaby
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To: JoeProBono

Until today, I had no inkling that there is anything like a flat headed cat, other than those smashed on the highway.

Now I’ll try to forget it.


5 posted on 03/23/2010 12:21:01 PM PDT by Ole Okie
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To: JoeProBono

Using land to grow “biofuel”.....one of the stupidest ideas, ever.


6 posted on 03/23/2010 12:22:00 PM PDT by Psycho_Bunny
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To: JoeProBono
Ford Flat-head


7 posted on 03/23/2010 12:22:57 PM PDT by Vaquero (BHO....'The Pretenda from Kenya')
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To: JoeProBono

Oh, it’s adorable. I just love cats!!


8 posted on 03/23/2010 12:23:40 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy (For victory & freedom!!!)
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To: JoeProBono

I CAN HAS MOAR ME?

9 posted on 03/23/2010 12:27:19 PM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
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To: JoeProBono
We have one gray cat who LOVES the rain and snow.

He goes out into the field for hours and hunts for slower mice...

He is soooooooooooo wet when he comes back in.

Fun kitty.

10 posted on 03/23/2010 12:27:22 PM PDT by Leo Farnsworth (I'm really not Leo Farnsworth.)
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To: JoeProBono
Any relation to the 'fat-belly cat' of North America?


11 posted on 03/23/2010 12:27:32 PM PDT by ETL (ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
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To: JoeProBono
I bet that cat would look good in a lime helmet just like this one.
12 posted on 03/23/2010 12:28:11 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine
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To: Vaquero

...not a flat head..looks like a V8.


13 posted on 03/23/2010 12:28:19 PM PDT by Banjoguy (Barack H. Obama and the Democrats are at war with the American people.)
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To: JoeProBono
Woah! Just caught this from the story:

“...Almost 70 percent of the area that historically provided good habitats for the flat-headed cat has already been converted into plantations, mostly for the purpose of growing biofuel....”

Save the planet types at work, eh?

14 posted on 03/23/2010 12:28:59 PM PDT by Leo Farnsworth (I'm really not Leo Farnsworth.)
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To: JoeProBono
Fat-belly cat


15 posted on 03/23/2010 12:29:09 PM PDT by ETL (ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
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To: JoeProBono

It looks like a common bird killer to me.

The less the better


16 posted on 03/23/2010 12:29:20 PM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Ostracize Democrats. There can be no Democrat friends.)
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To: Vaquero

17 posted on 03/23/2010 12:31:27 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono; Slings and Arrows

kitty ping


18 posted on 03/23/2010 12:31:29 PM PDT by Mercat
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To: RichInOC; windcliff

LOL!!


19 posted on 03/23/2010 12:32:28 PM PDT by stylecouncilor (What Would Jim Thompson Do?)
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To: bert

If you stuff it an put it next to your recliner can you place your beer bottle on top and not have it fall off?


20 posted on 03/23/2010 12:34:07 PM PDT by pennboricua
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