The Mysore Zoo has responded positively to the request for an exchange of a pair of rusty cats
Mysore Zoo could play a major role in helping boost the captive population of the rusty-spotted cats at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), which has been running a captive breeding programme of these smallest members of the cat family.
According to officials from SGNP, the Mysore Zoo has responded positively to the request for an exchange of a pair of rusty cats with them. In fact, dna had reported in September 2015 that in an attempt to ensure that inbreeding does not lead to failure of forest department's most ambitious project -- captive conservation breeding of rusty-spotted cats – the SGNP had even conducted DNA profiling of all the six rusty-spotted cats it houses.
"The last litters were born in 2013 and the bigger problem we are facing is fear of inbreeding in the existing population that belongs to common lineage, which will lead to weaker off-spring and hence there was an urgent need to bring in the fresh pair," said Dr Shailesh Pethe, veterinary officer for SGNP.
"We had been looking out for a zoo which was ready to exchange a pair and after a search of a few months, we were able to zero in on the Mysore Zoo and they agreed. We also immediately sent letters seeking official permission from Central Zoo Authourity (CZA) and that too was obtained, giving a green signal to the exchange," said chief conservator of forest (CCF) and field director Vikas Gupta.
According to Dr Pethe, they are in a process to draw up a schedule and would travel to Mysore possibly next month to bring the pair of rusty-spotted cats. Currently, there are six rusty-spotted cats with SGNP of which two -- Anjali and Vedika – are female and four -- Satyam, Shivam Sundaram and Bhagya – are male. "We will be giving them Bhagya who is two years old and another female while in return of this we will get a male-female around two years old who would be prefect for breeding," said another senior forest official.
As per experts breeding in rusty-spotted cat is extremely difficult and all the more in captives as first it has to be understood that which male-female pair is comfortable with each other, otherwise they fight and even kill each other.
It was in 2005 when for the first time two rusty-spotted kittens were brought to SGNP after they were found abandoned and were later named Sachin and Anjali. They bred successfully and a few more abandoned rusty-spotted cats were brought. From 2013, the SGNP decided to launch the captive breeding programme and started working on a plan with the help and guidance from the Pune-based expert Dr Erach Bharucha
SGNP's rusty family
Sachin and Anjali were found from Tungareshwar forest and brought to SGNP in November 2005
Vedika found from Satara forest and brought to SGNP in January 2009
Satyam, Shivam Sundaram born at SGNP in November 2013
Bhagya born at SGNP in July 2013
Rusty-spotted cats (Prionailurus rubiginosus)
Tiny in size but they are extremely ferocious. Rusty-spotted cats are nocturnal creatures and partly arboreal feeding on mainly rodents and birds. They measure around 14 to 17 inches in length and weigh around 1.5 kg.
Listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
They have grey fur with rusty spots all over the back and the flanks but the underbelly is white with dark spots and are said to be related very closely to leopards.
Gestation period in rusty cats is around 70 days.
The rusty-spotted cat is one of the smallest species of cat in the world.
The main threat to the rusty-spotted cat is that of habitat loss, although trade in furs is present in parts of its range as well.
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