Manul: the ‘grumpiest cat’

Manul: the ‘grumpiest cat’

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context: The presence of the manul, a cold-adapted wild cat the size of a domestic cat, has been confirmed on the slopes of the world’s highest mountain.

More on the News:

• The confirmation by DNA testing marks the first time the elusive cat has been formally recorded in Nepal’s eastern Himalayan region.
• Manuls were first recorded in the western Himalayas, in India, in the late 80s, and again in early 2000s. Then, in September 2007, conservationist Pranav Chanchani, from the Wildlife Institute of India, photographed one of the cats in the eastern Himalayas, in Sikkim.
• Conservationists say the latest finding can help inform conservation actions for the species, including the protection of its prey.

Manul

• The manul, also known as Pallas’s cat, is a small wild cat that is adapted to life in cold and arid environments. It is roughly the size of a domestic cat and is found in the high-altitude grasslands and montane steppe regions of Central Asia.
• The manul belongs to the Felidae family and the Otocolobus genus. It is one of the oldest known cat species, with a lineage that dates back over 5 million years.
• The manul is found in high-altitude grasslands and montane steppe regions of Central Asia, including parts of China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. It prefers rocky terrain with sparse vegetation, and is well adapted to the harsh, cold climate of these regions.
• The manul has a stocky build and a round face with broad cheeks and a short, flattened snout. Its fur is dense and long, with a grayish-brown base color and dark spots and stripes on the face, neck, and legs. Its ears are short and tufted, and its tail is thick and banded.
• The manul is adapted to survive in cold and arid environments. Its dense fur provides insulation against the cold, and it has a low metabolic rate that allows it to conserve energy in times of scarcity. Its broad, padded paws help it move over snow and ice, and its short, wide head and body help it retain heat.
• The manul is a solitary animal that is primarily active at dawn and dusk. It is territorial and marks its range with scent marks and claw scratches. It is also known for its distinctive vocalizations, which include growls, hisses, and purrs.
• The manul is a carnivorous predator that feeds on small mammals such as rodents, pikas, and birds. It is a skilled hunter that stalks and pounces on its prey, and it is also able to climb trees and hunt from elevated positions.
• Threats: It includes habitat loss, hunting, and fragmentation of populations.
• Conservation Status: The Manul is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)