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Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) Study Estimates 3 Lakh Population in India, Highlights Importance of Agro-Pastoral Landscapes

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
30 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Population: Over 3 lakh (1.57-4.59 lakh range)IUCN Status: Least ConcernWPA Schedule: II
Bodies:University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of WyomingNational Centre for Biological SciencesSalim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural HistoryIUCN/SSC Cat Specialists Group
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What This Article Covers

1.A new study in 'Scientific Reports' provides the first baseline for Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) conservation in India, estimating a population between 1.57 lakh to 4.59 lakh individuals.

2.The study finds Jungle Cats prefer warm, semi-arid agro-pastoral landscapes, providing ecosystem services like rodent control, but these areas outside PAs face threats from roads, stray dogs, and habitat fragmentation.

3.This highlights a key examiner angle: the need for land-use policies and mitigation measures (like wildlife passageways) in open ecosystems to conserve species beyond the Protected Area network.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

A new study provides the first conservation baseline for India's most widespread small cat, the Jungle Cat. It reveals an estimated population of over 3 lakh individuals, primarily thriving in agro-pastoral landscapes outside protected areas. This underscores a critical policy gap: the need to conserve biodiversity in human-modified habitats, which face threats from roads, dogs, and habitat fragmentation.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Species Scientific NameFelis chaus
IUCN StatusLeast Concern
WPA, 1972 ScheduleSchedule II
Estimated Population in IndiaOver 3 lakh (1.57-4.59 lakh range)
Key ThreatStray dogs (disease & kleptoparasitism)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Species Scientific Name: Felis chaus
  • ›IUCN Status: Least Concern
  • ›Target this Data: Estimated Jungle Cat population in India (Over 3 lakh, range 1.57-4.59 lakh)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group (mentioned in context of expert comment)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which schedule of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) protected in India?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) as per the study mentioned in the article:

1. It is listed as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

2. It primarily inhabits dense forest interiors and avoids human-modified landscapes.

3. Its estimated population in India is over three lakh individuals, with the largest populations in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the new study published in 'Scientific Reports', what is the estimated countrywide population range of Jungle Cats in India?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary conservation implication highlighted by the study on Jungle Cats preferring agro-pastoral landscapes?

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