Review of small cat ecology and status within India

Abstract

Small felids play pivotal roles in India's ecosystems, regulating prey populations, facilitating nutrient transfer, and safeguarding critical habitats. Despite their ecological significance, these species receive inadequate conservation attention, contrasting sharply with the focus on larger carnivores. Our review assesses the conservation status of nine native Indian small felids, aiming to consolidate data for improved species conservation and to draw connections with global small carnivore conservation efforts. Over the last 50 years, data scarcity has impeded comprehensive understanding, hindering the assessment of crucial ecological dynamics. We delve into the factors influencing the distribution and abundance of small cats across India, identifying climate, human disturbances, the presence of large carnivores, topography, and vegetation cover as influential determinants. Notably, trade records reveal a decline in small wild felid trade since 1997, suggesting potentially positive outcomes from enhanced law‐enforcement measures. Highlighting the necessity of robust ecological data, particularly pertaining to demographic parameters, prey–predator relationships, and responses to human‐induced habitat alterations, we advocate for integrating these insights into conservation strategies. We stress the urgency of collaborative efforts supported by unwavering political commitment and sustained financial backing to ensure the successful conservation of small felids globally. This review underscores the imperative of filling knowledge gaps, integrating ecological findings into conservation frameworks, and fostering international collaborations to preserve the crucial ecological roles of small felids in terrestrial ecosystems worldwide.

Diet of Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1831) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, India

“…Small carnivores have demonstrated their value in controlling pests, drawing attention to the larger effort required to monitor their responses to changes in their environment, in order to effectively plan their conservation (Marneweck et al 2021;Bandyopadhyay et al 2024). Further, Marneweck et al (2022) argue that small carnivores are an ideal group to study for understanding the effects of global change due to their higher diversity, intermediate trophic position, wider ecological niches, and higher reproductive rates than of large carnivores.…”