In a Snap, Extinct a Cat Comes Back to Life

Reuters ^ | Thu, Aug 14, 2003

[presidio9]

A wild cat thought to be virtually extinct has been captured on film in the wild, a Malaysian scientist said Thursday.

"We have discovered a species thought extinct in Borneo," Mohd Azlan told Reuters by telephone from East Malaysia, where he led a research project for University Malaysia Sarawak and the state forest department.

A Borneo bay cat (Catopuma badia), about the size of a large domestic cat though with an extra long tail, triggered a remote camera in daylight on June 27, yielding a lone image from what was a two-month monitoring period.

Azlan, who previously tracked tigers in Peninsular Malaysia using so-called camera traps, said the data suggested there were at most a few of the animals in the area of the Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary under study.

"In up to two months of camera tracking, we got a single photo, which means it must be low in abundance or density."

The sanctuary, a tropical rainforest area closed to the public and adjoining a sister park across the border in Indonesia's Kalimantan, is home to orangutans, Bornean gibbons and hundreds of tree species.

Azlan said his project was seeking funds and support from international donors for more research into the bay cat, only seven specimens of which have been documented -- the last in 1992.

[presidio9]

<img src="http://www.lioncrusher.com/images/baycat.jpg>

[presidio9]

[blam]

Borneo Bay Cat

[Only1choice____Freedom]

It looks like the one he is holding in his hand is extinct!

[LTCJ]

Also known as the ubiquitous Cheshire cat. You obviuosly took the picture when he wasn't smiling.

[azhenfud]

[martin_fierro]

A wild cat thought to be virtually extinct has been captured on film in the wild, a Malaysian scientist said Thursday.

Turns out he wasn't hard to find OR catch.

[Hatteras]

[Sabertooth]

Truly, the "feel good" story of the year.

[LTCJ]

Yikes!

What did I ever do to you?

I say again, Yikes!

[Hatteras]

I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about extinct cats, right? ;-)

[najida]

Great story! Now if they can just bring back the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger).

[azhenfud]

Good Gosh! Is that Tom Shellac?

[ChewedGum]

What is that?

Gum

[Torie]

Here is a pic of the Borneo bay cat:

[Hatteras]

No sillies, it's this guy:

You know, "Watch out where the huskies go..." ?

[VadeRetro]

Great! The Borneo Snake-Tailed Stone-Cold Glarer isn't quite extinct yet.

What a world it would be without the BSTSCG!

[LTCJ]

I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about extinct cats, right? ;-)

Yeah, just give me a chance to don my welders' goggles next time.

[presidio9]

[najida]

Thank you!

and the queen thanks you