Leopard cat
- ▼Characteristics of Leopard cats
- ▼Distribution of Taiwan Leopard cats
- ▼Traces of Leopard cats in Changhua
Crisis of Leopard cats
Distribution of Taiwan Leopard cats
Current quantity
The estimated population is 468-669 leopard cats (Source：林良恭、姜博仁、王豫煌， 2016)
Distribution area
Leopard cats mainly inhabit low-altitude shallow mountain areas below 800 meters above sea level, including relatively primitive broad-leaved forests, or secondary forests that have been disturbed by humans, acacia forests, grasslands, and even farmland, orchards, and betel nut areas with agricultural reclamation activities. parks, etc., close to human activities and residential areas.
Historical changes
Taiwan's leopard cats, or lynxes, were widely distributed in low-altitude hilly areas throughout Taiwan during the Japanese occupation (Shikano Tadao, 1940). In the early days, leopard cats were recorded throughout Taiwan. In 1974, Dr. Dale McCullough investigated Taiwan. For medium and large mammals, it is pointed out that leopard cats are still distributed throughout the island, but are less widespread than in the past. Investigations in the past 20 years have found that their distribution is limited and their numbers are scarce.
The Ministry of Agriculture announced the leopard cat as a "precious and rare" protected wild animal in 1989, and in 2008 announced it as an endangered protected wild animal in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Act.
The Endemic Biological Research and Conservation Center of the Ministry of Agriculture (Special Biology Center) listed the leopard cat as nationally endangered in the 2017 Taiwan Terrestrial Mammals Red Data Book.
Research and survey data in recent years show that only Miaoli County, Taichung City and Nantou County still have stable ethnic distribution, while Hsinchu County, Changhua County and Chiayi County have only sporadic records.
