Asian Golden Cat

Catopuma temminckii

Fabah Biji

7th Period

Table of Contents

Summary

Why are they endangered?

Biome and Countries

What is being done to protect the Cats?

Food Pyramid and Food Web

How can I make a difference?

Asian Golden Cats

Summary

Asian Golden cats are found in Southeastern Asia and are found in elevations of 1,100 to 3,738 meters. They prefer to live in forest habitats that has rocky areas or tropical rainforests. The only predator the Asian Golden Cat has, is us, humans! People local to the areas where these wild cats live hunt them for their meat, fur, and their bones. Their meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of Asia. The bones are used for drugs and medicine. Some of their hair or fur is used to "ward" off tigers. There are many different sightings of different colored Asian Golden Cats including gold brown, brown, black, fox red, and gray. This also includes white legs, arms, and underbelly. They also have long legs for tree climbing. These wildcats were once thought to be nocturnal but other studies have proved that they are diurnal and crepuscular (meaning they are active during dawn, dusk, and day). Asian Golden Cats are expected to live at least 20 years in captivity and 18 to 23 years on their own. They eat small animals like bunnies, buffalo calves, sheep, and many more. This makes them Tertiary consumers. The African Golden Cat is commonly mistaken to be as the same animal but they actua...

Where they can be found

Biomes and Countries

-Asian Golden Cats prefer to live in savanna, grassland, forest or rainforest biomes. -They can be found in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Southern China, Malaysia and Sumatra.

What they eat

Food Pyramid and Food Web

Since Asian Golden Cats are Tertiary consumers, they eat small animals like bunnies and buffalo calves. Sometimes they eat sheep, goats, and other poultry. Their Niche is to hunt prey.

Why they are endangered

Endangerment

The Asian Golden Cat are endangered because of their population decrease. Habitat loss from cutting down trees and agriculture is also a very big role in their endangerment. Although killing these cats are illegal, poachers still sell their fur in the black market.

How they are being protected

Protection

The Asiatic Golden Cat is near threatened. Today there are reservations and wildlife sanctuaries Asiatic Golden Cats inhabit. There are laws that make killing the wildcats illegal but still poachers hunt them instead of tigers and leopards. Some zoos are also trying to help breed them. They are also protected in all of its ranges except Bhutan.

What can I do to help

Make a difference

Many Golden Cats are near threatened because of our own actions. We hunt them for their bones and fur. What I can do to help these animals is to help raise money to give it to the zoos and reservations made for these cats. Another reason why Asian Golden Cats are near threatened is because their habitat is being destroyed. I can get a group of friends and start planting trees in our community.

Works Cited

2001. "Asian Golden Cat" (On-line). International Society for Endangered Cats Canada. Accessed May 12, 2014 at http://www.wildcatconservation.org/Asian_Golden_Cat_(Catopuma_temminckii).html.

1999. "Asian Golden Cat-Catopuma Temminckii- "fire cat"" (On-line). Accessed May 12, 2014 at http://www.tigerhomes.org/wild-cats/wc-asian-golden-cat.cfm.

IUCN - The World Conservation Union. 1996. "Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temmincki" (On-line). Accessed May 12, 2014 at http://lynx.uio.no/lynx/catsgportal/cat-website/catfolk/temmin01.htm.

Thank You

By: Fabah Biji

Period 7

Asian Golden Cat