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.

[doorgunner69]

Gorgeous kitteh, very distinctive face.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

The look of this cat intrigues me. Its head is odd, very low-browed, almost lizard-like. The flank, at least in this photo, seems to have a dog-like aspect.

I think if I saw this thing in the wild, I’d be tempted to call it a chupacabra! ;o)

[Bigg Red]

Very pretty kitty.

But I am puzzled by the use of the word “charismatic” in the description. I am picturing it as speaking in tongues, as I am unfamiliar with a usage in environmental science. Help!