Rusty-spotted cat sighting; West Bengal’s Purulia district sparks conservation hope

The discovery of the rusty-spotted cat, one of the world’s smallest wild cat species, in West Bengal’s Purulia district has thrilled forest officials and environmentalists. The cat was photographed by camera traps set up by the Human and Environment Alliance League (HEAL) in January 2025, as part of a pangolin conservation project.

This sighting marks the ninth wild cat species identified in the state and is significant, as the species was not previously detected in the region despite previous surveys and British archival data. The forests of Purulia, part of the Chotanagpur Plateau ecoregion, share ecological characteristics with Jharkhand and Odisha, where the rusty-spotted cat has been previously recorded.

“We believe that there may be more such cats present in the forests of Purulia,” said Anjan Guha, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Purulia. The sighting highlights the importance of conservation efforts in the region, with HEAL launching awareness programs to familiarize local communities with lesser-known species. The rusty-spotted cat is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and enjoys the highest level of protection under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Schedule I).