A leopard cat cub, a species under second-class national protection in China, was rescued in Xunyang City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, after being found alone near a residential area on Wednesday.
The cub was spotted by a resident who initially thought it was a kitten. However, its appearance, markings and cries differed from those of a typical cat. Suspecting it might be a wild animal, the resident brought the cub to the local community office for identification.
After comparing photos of leopard cats online, community workers suspected that the animal could be a nationally protected leopard cat. The cub was then transferred to the Xunyang Forestry Bureau for further examination.
"After an on-site examination, we found this small animal was quite young and had no obvious external injuries. It appears to have been separated from its mother and left in the village, where it was found by a resident. We talked with people from the [Ankang] municipal animal management department, and experts confirmed it was indeed a leopard cat, a national second-class protected [wild] animal. Due to its special status, we immediately sent it to the Ankang wildlife rescue station for temporary care," said Ma Zhiqun, a staff member at the Natural Forest Protection Station of Xunyang Forestry Bureau.
According to staff at the Ankang Wildlife Rescue Station, the leopard cat cub is around two months old. Since it lacks maternal care, releasing it directly into the wild would pose risks to its survival. The cub will therefore remain at the rescue station for a period of time and will be released back into the wild once it has developed the skills needed for independent survival.
Leopard cat cub rescued in Shaanxi after being found alone near residential area
