Let’s go see the Tsushima Leopard Cat!
#Caturdays
Tsushima Leopard Cat gets its name.
The Leopard cat species (prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat native to South and East Asia —the Tsushima Leopard Cat, a subspecies, runs by the name of prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus. (Studies have shown that the Leopard cat to be the first species to be domesticated, nearly 5000 years ago in Neolithic China).
Native to the Japanese island of Tsushima, the Tsushima yamaneko is one of Japan’s two wild felids, with the other being the Iriomote cat (prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis). While leopard cats have always been common and widespread among the Amur and Indochina regions, this #Caturday we’re exploring one of Japan’s two wildcats.
Despite such a large diaspora of the species, the subspecies of this mountain cat remains tirelessly small; Japanese conservation efforts have been made to help preserve the yamaneko, with an estimated 80~100 cats left in the wild. While the Japanese name of Tsushima yamaneko, literally translates to, “Mountain-Cat of Tsushima,” it was originally believed that the cat was a subspecies of the Chinese leopard cat — now, it’s believed to be an isolated population of the Amur leopard cat.
This leopard cat is categorized as of least concern in the IUCN Read List, included under the entire Leopard cat species, however, it is categorized as critically endangered under the Japanese Red List. Since 2007, the Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has been working to preserve Tsushima wildcats from extinction!
So what’s to know about this feline friend?
These cats are around the size of your average domestic cat.
Weighing in from anywhere between 6.6 to 11 pounds (3 to 5 kg), and running from around 2'3" to 2'8" (70 to 80 cm) long, these cats are distinguished by some features that separate them from the domestic cats in Tsushima:
- Their bodies can range from chestnut-brown to cream peppered with indistinct brown spots. A clear brown-white striped pattern can be found on their foreheads — a characteristic feature of wildcats.
- They have long, fat tails, longer trunks, and shorter-than-typical legs.
- They can be distinguished from the feral, stray domestic cats of Tsushima by their ears! A Tsushima leopard cat will have a visible white spot on the back of each of their rounded ears.
- These cats are cautious! Solitary, it’s hard to find these cats in the wild but they leave round-shaped, claw mark-less footprints with four-finger pads where.
- Tsushima yamaneko tend to eat birds, mice, moles, and insects; mice and moles get eaten throughout the year whereas birds get eaten in the summer and insects get eaten in the winter.
- These guys are most active from sunset through dawn.
Okay — now give me the location details!
These wildcats are native to the island of Tsushima.
Tsushima Island is off the western coast of Japan, classified as being a part of the Nagasaki Prefecture. Tsushima yamaneko find their home in the northern forests of the island.
Located roughly 31 miles (49.5 km) from the Korean peninsula, Tsushima island is actually further from the Kyushu Island, one of Japan’s four main islands, at around 86 miles (138 km). During past ice ages, Tsushima has frequently been connected to the greater Eurasia landmass and the Japanese islands — it was finally separated from the Korean peninsula after the end of last glacial period, around 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Tsushima’s leopard cat subspecies that exists today is thought to have migrated around 100,000 years ago, while Tsushima was still connected to the Asian continent at large.
While over 90% of the island is covered by mountainous woodland, Tsushima’s ~269 sq. miles (696 sq. km) is largely owned by property owners. With only 11% of the land being granted protection, protected areas are fragmented and scattered all over the island to the disadvantage of natural wildlife. Tsushima yamaneko is primarily found in a patchy environment blending mountainous forest with rice paddies, fields, and the coastal shores. With a wealth of nature diversities at their disposal, the Tsushima leopard cat is able to maintain healthy livelihoods in their habitats.
Tsushima yamaneko wasn’t always kept to the northern edge of the island; as of time has passed, there has been an increasing decline in population size. During the 1960’s, it was estimated that around 250 to 300 Tsushima leopard cats were living around the island. Today, that number has dwindled to a meager 80 to 100 felines.
Of Least Concern to Critically Endangered
How conservation efforts persevere.
Due to the way in which the IUCN develops their red list, a large number of sub-species are placed under greater categories. The Tsushima yamaneko remains unlisted on the red list, instead being named as a form of the Leopard cat species (prionailurus bengalensis). Despite the lack of international awareness, the Tsushima yamaneko was a National Nature Monument of Japan in 1971. By 1994, Japan’s Ministry of Environment designated the Tsushima leopard cat as a National Endangered Species; in cooperation with the Nagasaki Prefectural Government, the Ministry is working to carry out various conservation activities.
Threats facing the Tshushima leopard cats
The constant pressure of human expansion, of course, takes a toll on the leopard cat population. According to Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, the Tsushima yamaneko population is threatened by:
- Road killings.
- Pathogenic infectious disease from domestic cats.
- Dog attacks.
- Traps.
- Habitat degradation.
- Habitat fragmentation via human land development.
Conservation Efforts
Habitat Research
Tsushima leopard cats have been fitted with radio-collars to study their home ranges by radio-tracking. Their population and distribution change has been monitored with camera tracks and field sign surveys.
According to the Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center:
Ecological research using radio-tracking methods have revealed that adult females usually establish a home range of approximately 2 [sq. km] and tend to stay in the same area throughout the year. On the other hand, adult males have a larger home range and the size fluctuates seasonally; it can become 7 to 8 times larger than the adult female’s home range size, especially in winter due to the mating season.
Although their movements can generally be predicted throughout the seasons, little is known about the reproductive biology of the Tsushima leopard cat, posing issues for those seeking to safely predict population fluxuations. As said by the Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center:
The reproductive biology of the Tsushima leopard cat is not fully understood; however, their mating season is thought to occur during February and March. After about two months of gestation, one to three kittens are born in March and April. Kittens become independent from the parents when they become six to seven months old.
Habitat Improvements
In addition to their research, the Ministry of the Environment tasks local volunteer groups to undertake a forest restoration project, in hopes of saving the forests in Tsushima for a variety of wildlife. Volunteers have accomplished things like:
- Improving forestry through community endeavors and support of forestation activities.
- Promotion of appropriate domestic cat rearing for all feline pets in the Tsushima Area. (Associated veterinarians help to provide free neutering of domestic cats to prevent the spread of disease).
- Preparing and taking countermeasures to actively prevent road kills such as sign posting and educational campaigns. (On-site investigations of road kills help to provide a look into what strategies are, and are not, working to help keep Tsushima’s wildlife safe).
- Installing breeding projects so that Tsushima leopard cats can be bred safely in captivity and later released back onto the island. (With the oldest project started in 1999 at the Fukuoka City Zoological Garden, the Inokashira Park Zoo in Tokyo, Yokohama Zoological Garden in Yokohama, and Toyama Municipal Family Park Zoo in Toyama have also followed suit).
- Creating public education programs to help teach conservation strategies for elementary and high school students. (The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center holds classes and monthly interaction events about Tsushima leopard cats to promote their appreciation).
There are around 80 ~ 100 of these cats alive!
That’s a small number so it’s always good to raise awareness!
In the meantime, please enjoy the pictures!
(Oh yeah — All images are linked! Just click on ‘em.)
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