CHENNAI: Two of the smallest and rarest cat species, rusty spotted cat (Prionailurusrubiginosus) and jungle cat (Felischaus), both categorised under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, are the latest to catch poachers' fancy.
Field operatives of TRAFFIC, a wildlife crime prevention wing of the World Wide Fund for Nature, India, told TOI that narikuravas mainly use double-barrel guns to poach these cats in Kumbakonam, Tiruchi, Karur, Perambalur, Namakkal and Tirunelveli.
In some other parts of the state, poachers adopt a different technique. They soak intestines of goat or chicken in water for a couple of days. Then they soak some paper in the same water. The paper is then used to cover a locally-made explosive, which is placed along the places where these cats are found. When the cats bite the paper, the explosive goes off killing them instantly. The meat is sold and tails of the cats are kept as trophy, which can protect from bad omen as many believe, said the TRAFFIC operatives.
Rusty spotted cats are found in India and Sri Lanka. Only recently the cat was found in western terai of Nepal. These cats have a relatively restricted distribution.
With no population study on these species, rampant poaching of these cats are taking place in the state. Already International Union for Conservation Natural Flora and Fauna categorized the cats under its near threatened category.
Lack of intelligence gathering by wildlife authorities against poachers is stated to be the main cause behind poaching, said a senior forest official.
