Species Hang in the Balance

BINOMIAL NAME:

Prionailurus Iriomotensis

ANATOMICAL PROPORTIONS:

2-3 ft. long (tip-to-tail)/ 10 in. tall/ 6.5-15.5 lbs.

POPULATION (APPROXIMATE):

100

CONSERVATION STATUS:

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT:

Mountainous areas, broad-leaf, mangrove, coastal, and evergreen forests, and subtropical rain forest, on the 200-mile-long island of Iriomote, at the southern end of Japan's Ryuku Islands

DIET:

Small mammals (fruit bats, black rats, wild boar), reptiles (skinks, turtles, frogs, and lizards), birds (night herons, quails, rails, pigeons, doves, scoop owls, king fishers, robins, thrushes, and crows), insects, and fish

SPECIES THREATS:

The Iriomote cat lives in one of the fastest developing regions in the world. Human encroachment and loss of habitat are therefore its biggest threat.

The local population of feral domestic cats not only competes with the Iriomote for food, but also threatens to dilute the wild cat's gene pool, should the two begin inter-breeding. This kind of competition, coupled with a rapid loss of habitat, causes the Iriomote to prey on livestock (mostly chickens), which leads to further persecution of the already critically endangered animal.

Finally, many Iriomote cats are killed while trying to cross high-speed roadways. This factor only promises to get worse with time, as the human population on Iriomote Island continues to swell.

UNIQUE FACTS:

Considered a "living fossil", the Iriomote cat has survived within its tiny, island ecosystem, for at least two million years. Ironically, the species was discovered relatively recently, and remained unregistered until 1967.

The small feline takes to water, and is apparently well-adapted for aquatic hunting. While this behavior should well-serve the Iriomote's overall resiliency (by contributing to its already generalized diet), the cat is nevertheless likely to go extinct, in light of many other looming impositions.

The Iriomote cat is (despite its dire circumstances) a nationally treasured animal, and the Japanese government declared it a "Special Natural Monument"; the local population seems especially proud of their little "island cat".

DEVOTED ORGANIZATION:

Iriomote Cat Alliance

This campaign was necessarily created---through this website---because there was no pre-existing organization for the Iriomote cat. Anyone is welcome to join!

*Please note: this is not a solicitation for money or donations; users may join, free of obligation, commitment, or charge.

• < Prev
• Next >