Seven cat species photographed in Himalayan rainforest

Wildlife photographers working in the rainforests of the eastern Himalayas in India have spotted seven different species of wild cat in the area.

As part of a study carried out by wildlife biologist Kashmira Kakati over a two-year period, the cats were caught on cameras fitted with motion sensors. All of the seven types of cat were spotted in the Jeypore-Dehing lowland rainforests in the region.

The cats photographed were leopard cats, jungle cats, marbled cats, leopards, clouded leopards, golden cats and tigers.

However, the natural habitats of these cats are under constant threat from deforestation, rainforest clearing and industry and a number of conservationists have urged the Indian government to step in to protect the area.

The entire forest here should be protected as a single conservation landscape, free of disturbance and connected by wildlife corridors," said Wildlife Conservation Society-India spokesman Ravi Chellam.

Deforestation caused by industry is a big problem for many of the world's most endangered rainforests, which the issue also often causing the displacement of indigenous communities.

Written by Kimberley Homer.

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