Extremely Rare Bay Cat Captured on Camera in Borneo

Sci-News.com ^ | Tuesday, November 5, 2013 | Wearn OR et al. PLoS ONE

[SunkenCiv]

The mysterious bay cat, also known as the Bornean cat, is a wild cat endemic to the Indonesian island of Borneo. Adults grow as long as 50-60 cm with a 30 – 40 cm long tail, and can weigh over 3.5 kg.

Until now, this species had been recorded on camera traps just a handful of times in Borneo and was only photographed in the wild for the first time in 2003.

But more images of this animal have been captured than ever before, together with evidence of four other wild cat species – the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) and marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata).

“We discovered that randomly placed cameras have a big influence on the species recorded,” explained Dr Oliver Wearn from both Zoological Society of London and Imperial College London, who is a lead author of the paper...

All five cat species mentioned are charismatic and important components of the forest ecosystems, and predators of a wide range of other animals.

[SunkenCiv]

Using camera traps, British biologists have captured photographs of the world’s least known cat, the bay cat (Pardofelis badia).

The Bay Cat, Pardofelis badia. Image credit: Oliver Wearn.

[SunkenCiv]

Great, I loused up the close tag.

[1010RD]

Very charismatic cat. I’m charmed.

[MUDDOG]

Great!

But I'd rather find a Tasmanian tiger.

[Perdogg]

Ping

[Sawdring]

Or two.

[School of Rational Thought]

cool. I want one.

[MUDDOG]

LOL! One wouldn’t be much use.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Shucks! I hoped it would be the Sumatran Rat Monkey.

[steerpike100]

Poor kitty.

[Bon of Babble]

Nice Kitty!!

[eclecticEel]

Adults grow as long as 50-60 cm with a 30 – 40 cm long tail

I think they meant to say it could grow 50-60 cm tall.

[jocon307]

Nice kitty. It wants to eat us.

[CrazyIvan]

“I'd rather find a Tasmanian tiger.”

Having seen pictures I do not want to find one while unarmed.

[MUDDOG]

You bet! I’ll let Jungle Jim handle him.

[Slings and Arrows]

[martin_fierro]

Dang. Looooonnnng body.

IT'S LONGCAT!

[martin_fierro]

[martin_fierro]

"And then I told them, I said, like, I'm all..."

"... 'yeah, I'll let you take my picture JUST THIS ONCE...'"

[tumblindice]

That’s a cool cat. Very sleek!