First photographic record of the Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1831) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India

Authors

  • Tarun Singh Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9143-4550
  • Harshvandhan Singh Rathore Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-0987
  • N. Abhin Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1475-210X
  • Subhalaxmi Muduli Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8058-9835
  • Yash Deshpande Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7638-385X
  • Vivek Sarkar Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.
  • Diganta Sovan Chand Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2893-8449
  • Samrat Gowda Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.
  • Prakash C. Gogineni Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.
  • Manoj V. Nair Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8184-0612
  • Bivash Pandav Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.
  • Samrat Mondol Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3034-9396

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10209.18.2.28441-28443

Keywords:

Camera-trapping, Deccan peninsula, habitat loss, land-use change, protected areas, small cat conservation, small felid research, tropical forest, Camera-trapping, Deccan peninsula, habitat loss, land-use change, protected areas, small cat conservation, small felid research, tropical forest

Abstract

Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is the smallest felid in the world. It is rare, elusive, and poorly studied. Its distribution across the country is patchy, and it faces threats from increasing anthropogenic pressure. We recorded the first photographic evidence of this species in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, during a camera trap study conducted for large carnivores and their prey. Its elusive nature, low densities and anthropogenic threats highlight the need for targeted studies and long-term monitoring to support effective conservation planning in both protected and non-protected areas.

Author Biographies

Tarun Singh, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Harshvandhan Singh Rathore, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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N. Abhin, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Subhalaxmi Muduli, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Yash Deshpande, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Vivek Sarkar, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Diganta Sovan Chand, Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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Samrat Gowda, Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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Prakash C. Gogineni, Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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Manoj V. Nair, Odisha Forest Department, Aranyabhawan Plot No 2/12 Chandrasekharpur Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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Bivash Pandav, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Samrat Mondol, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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References

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Published

26-02-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Notes

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Copyright (c) 2026 Tarun Singh, Harshvandhan Singh Rathore, N. Abhin, Subhalaxmi Muduli, Yash Deshpande, Vivek Sarkar, Diganta Sovan Chand, Samrat Gowda, Prakash C. Gogineni, Manoj V. Nair, Bivash Pandav, Samrat Mondol

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