Marbled cats
Why we need to know more about these felines
The marbled cat has a vast distribution that spans the forested landscapes of South and Southeast Asia, from Nepal to Vietnam. It’s found in parts of northeast India and southwest China and is known to occur on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Its range includes forest networks that are either in geographically challenging or politically unstable areas, which makes it very challenging to research.
The two most recent studies of the species have published population estimates of between seven and 20 individuals per 100km2 in three areas of Borneo and five per 100km2 in a site in northeast India. Given its large distributional area, the global population is presumed to be more than 10,000 mature individuals, resulting in a status that is closer to Vulnerable.
Marbled cats are very difficult to study because they tend to be found in dense, tropical forests that are poorly explored for wildlife. New data suggests they fare well in low-disturbance, primary lowland forests and selectively logged areas but appear to avoid oil palm plantations. The elusive felines are small (weighing 5kg or less), infrequently encountered and are likely to spend a large amount of time in forest canopies, where they’re tricky to spot.
Habitat loss due to deforestation and conversion of forests to plantations may be one the greatest threats to marbled cats. Hunting and snaring of the species is also reported. We know so little about these cats that it’s hard to predict how hunting and land use changes may be affecting their population and behaviour.
Conservation programmes aimed at umbrella species such as the tiger, allow for better protection of wildlife habitats, which could be benefitting the marbled cat. But more urgent research is needed to accurately determine this particular feline species’ conservation status for the future.
MARBLED CATS ARE DIFFICULT TO STUDY BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE FOUND IN DENSE FOREST.”