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Felis chaus: The Jungle Cat


Felis chaus: The Jungle Cat
Photo Information
Copyright: Subhash Ranjan (sranjan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 489 W: 63 N: 1877] (5784)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-12-17
Categories: Mammals
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite wild animal photos 3, Camouflage [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2011-01-03 4:09
Viewed: 6462
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I shot this Jungle Cat at Devalia Gir Interpretation Zone, Gir Forest at Sasan Gir. I was looking for lions in the grassland and found cub like animal moving silently; but to my surprise it turned out to be jungle cat. It was my first encounter with this animal in wilderness.

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The jungle cat (Felis chaus) is a medium-sized cat and considered the largest remaining species of the wild cat genus Felis. The species is also called the swamp lynx but is not closely related to the lynxes. Due to the long legs and short tail, and the fact that the ears bear a tuft of black hair, this cat resembles a small lynx (hence the name "swamp lynx").

Jungle cats are largely oriental in distribution and found in Egypt, West and Central Asia, but also in South Asia, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. In India they are the most common small cats among the felidae found there.

They have been observed at altitudes up to 2,400 metres (7,900 ft), but are much more common in the lowlands. They inhabit savannas, tropical dry forests and reedbeds along rivers and lakes, but, despite the name, are not found in rainforests. Although they are adaptable animals, being found even in dry steppe, they prefer wetland environments with tall grasses or reeds in which to hide.

Their most common predators include crocodiles, bears, wolves, and other larger felines such as tigers. When countered by a threat, the jungle cat will vocalize before engaging in attack, producing small roars, a behavior uncommon for domestic cats. In some cases, they jump on their attacker, but will usually retreat upon encountering larger threats. There have been known cases of jungle cats attacking curious humans near their habitat, but their attack seems to pose no medical significance besides wound infection from clawing.

During mating season, the male "barks", sounding like a large dog.This species of cat is capable of being domesticated under certain conditions. Cat breeders have been able to hybridize jungle cats with certain domestic cats, producing such breeds as the "chausie" (Jungle Cat x domestic cat) and the "jungle bob" (Jungle Cat x Pixie Bob).

Source: wikipedia
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2011-01-03 4:21]

Hello Subhash,
A fine capture of a Jungle Cat on the prowl. The sharpness and natural colours are great in a pleasing composition in its natural habitat.
Thanks and kind regards,
Ivan

Very neat shot. You have shown a sleek, sly part to this cat. It blends in well for a preditory animal in it's nice earth tones.
Bob

Hi Subash
maybe not a perfect photo but what an exciting moment
the cat seems just a bit oof with the grass perfectly sharp
tfs
Tom

hello Subhash

WOW ! it is the first time i view and read
about this wild cat that is the jungle cat
(or i don't remember), a great nature shot
Subhash as i love, in French to this kind
of photos we say « photo prise sur le vif »

with his pose we can see he is on hunting action,
i love your photo as it is with the vegetation
in the foreground a real wilderness photo,
the subject superbly focused with
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Dear Subhash.
Perusing your exciting portfolio, I chose the Jungle Cat to talk about it's good camouflage.

I add it to my theme "Camouflage" and thank you for sharing your work including the interesting notes. Camouflage interest me very much. When we lived on a farm in the NE of South Africa, I bottle fed a baby Impala, and his reaction to my daily change of fur ( clothes) interesting, sometimes violent.

When I wore anything with stripes, he refused to join me on our daily walk. And the wild animals fled.

Thanks again, greetings from the Tzaneen Dam in Limpopo, South Africa,
Ingrid

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