The race is on to save the world’s oddest cat
Rare species reared in Scotland
WITH its extraordinarily expressive face, it is one of the world’s most bizarre-looking species of cat.
But the Pallas’ cat is under serious threat. Numbers are dwindling and experts fear it faces extinction.
However, a Scots conservationist is launching a remarkable bid to help save it from dying out.
David Barclay, Europe’s endangered species co-ordinator for Pallas’ cats, has already reared the biggest surviving litter in captivity, at a wildlife park in Scotland.
Next year he will travel to Mongolia to oversee work tracking the cats in their natural environment. By learning more about their hunting, feeding and breeding habits he hopes to be able to develop plans to safeguard their survival.
The Edinburgh-born cat conservation officer at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie, Inverness- shire, said: ‘There is a lot we still need to learn about the species – and this will really help with our action plan worldwide. We need to know more about them before we can start on conservation plans.’
But spotting the animals won’t be easy: although they’re bigger than pet cats found in Britain (they stand a foot tall and weigh up to 11lb), their grey and black markings help them blend into the background, earning their nickname “camouflage cats”.’
Although their scientific name, Otocolobus, can be translated from Greek as ‘ugly- eared’, their flat faces have created many entertaining animal pictures on the internet. Mr Barclay said: ‘They probably have the most character of small cats, with a lot of amusing facial expressions. ‘They’re generally very
shy and elusive – but when we work with them closely and spend time with them, they feel nice and relaxed.’
Pallas’ cats feed mainly on birds called pikas, which are poisoned by farmers because they eat crops. As well as limiting their food supply, this causes problems when Pallas’ cats also consume the poison.
Mr Barclay said: ‘Even some people who work in zoos have never heard of Pallas’ cats. In this day and age, the fact there is a species no one knows about is quite surprising. A lot of the limelight, funding and research goes on lions and tigers – and small cats are forgotten about.
‘There is an element of fighting for the underdog. All the attention and funding goes towards the bigger cats – and someone needs to fly that flag for Pallas’ cats.’
The new project in Mongolia was developed alongside the Snow Leopard Trust – which has been working there for three years. Mr Barclay said: ‘The first step will be establishing where the felines are lurking, whether that’s on dusty plains, grasslands or rocky mountains – and how many there are.
‘We can then plan future action – such as tracking the cats with collars and conservational breeding.’
Last year marked a particular success for Mr Barclay, when a record six Pallas’ cats were born and survived from a single litter at the Highland Wildlife Park.
‘There is a lot we still have to learn’