Discovery of first active breeding den of Chinese mountain cat (Felis bieti)

• Published in: Dōngwùxué yánjiū 2020-05, Vol.41 (3), p.341-344A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breeding; Burrowing organisms; Burrows; Cameras; Cats; Conservation; Dens; Females; Field study; Males; Mountains; Poaching; Protected species; Zoobenthos
• ISSN: 0254-5853
• DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.039

To date, based on all known field information concerning the Chinese mountain cat, only four breeding dens and two temporary hiding burrows have been reported previously in northern Qinghai Province from 1975 to 1985 (Liao, 1988), all of which were deserted due to poaching. [...]our recent discovery of a breeding family provides crucial information that will help underpin future research and conservation of this poorly known felid. To better understand the habitat and to search for other possible dens, two transects totaling 26 km were surveyed (Figure 1A), with nine additional camera traps set beside potential cat burrows (Figure 1A). [...]we conducted household interviews in the nearby Tibetan communities to collect information concerning this population of Chinese mountain cat. [...]four individuals were identified in this area, including one adult female [1#] (Figure 1G), one female kitten [2#] (Figure 1I), and one male kitten [3#] (Figure 1J-K) from the above family, and one additional adult female [4#] (Figure 1H). [...]despite the lack of records, there should be at least one adult male [5#] who fathered the kittens, indicating the presence of at least five individuals in the area. [...]the discovery of this population may provide a great opportunity for future investigation and conservation and allow us to learn about and better protect this secretive felid species.