Mumbai: A rusty spotted cat has been found in an area near Alibaug near Mumbai. The Rusty Spotted Cat is the smallest animal of the wild cat family. This unique species of cat is found in very few places in India.
Forest Department sources said that the Rusty Spotted Cat is considered the safest in India. That means the government has made strict laws to maintain the existence of this small cat.
A very small cat was spotted in the premises near Kankeshwar Mahadev Temple near Alibaug on Saturday during a survey conducted by an animal lover's organisation. The temple of Kankeshwar Mahadev is on a small hill. The workers of the animal lover's organization were surveying various types of animals and birds at the foothills of the hill, when their eyes fell on this unique species of cat.
Thus, the area near Alibaug has many special species of animals, birds, reptiles, sponges, special types of plants, rare trees.
According to animal and bird experts, Rusty Spotted Cat has been seen for the first time in the area near Alibaug.
Earlier last February also, a rusty spotted cat was rescued from a village near Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary in Palghar district. According to the villagers, the cat was left alone and very weak.
Medical tests revealed that the cat's body was severely dehydrated. Also she was very hungry. At the same time, the body temperature of this cat was also much lower than the normal temperature. The vet gave him tonic fluid. With timely and good treatment, the rust-spotted cat recovered within a few days.
According to expert zoologists, the rusty spotted cat is found in the forests of India and Sri Lanka. Such small cat is found in the forests of Dang, Valsad including Girnar forests of Gujarat. The Rusty Spotted Cat is dark in color and has brown hair on its body. There are four small lines above its eyes. Two of these lines extend up to the neck. This specific breed of cat has dark black stripes on both sides of its head. Its stomach is white in colour.
The length of this smallest cat of the wild cat family is 14-19 inches, tail is 11 inches and weight is 1.6 kg. This cat is nocturnal and hunts and eats small insects, frogs, lizards etc. However, sometimes if they see a large predatory animal, they will even climb a nearby tree to protect themselves.