Asian Golden Cat Reddish
The Asian golden cat, also called Temminck’s golden cat, is a discreet and rare feline that evolves in the dense forests of Southeast Asia, notably in India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Indonesia. This elegant predator, still little studied, is one of the most enigmatic of the feline family.
Size and weight
Its coat, a bright reddish to golden brown, is uniform, although it can sometimes have dark spots or bands on the flanks and back. Some individuals display a melanic coat, completely black, which blends perfectly into the shadows of the jungle. The underside of its body is lighter, and its tail, long and bushy, is marked with dark rings at its tip. The Asian golden cat measures between 66 and 105 cm long, tail included, for a weight of 8 to 15 kg, making it a medium-sized feline.
Diet
An opportunistic carnivore, this solitary feline hunts mainly birds, rodents, reptiles and sometimes young ungulates such as muntjacs. Thanks to its powerful paws and agility, it is capable of climbing trees to capture prey or escape from predators, although it prefers to hunt on the ground. It is a territorial animal that roams vast areas, marking its territory with scratches and urine sprays.
Habitat and distribution
The Asian golden cat lives mainly in humid tropical forests, but is also found in mountain forests up to 3,000 meters altitude. These dense habitats offer it an ideal refuge for hunting and hiding from larger predators.
Conservation and threats
Lumigny Safari Reserve is one of the rare European parks to have bred the species over the past 10 years, thus contributing to the conservation of this unique feline.
