Why in the News?
A Rusty spotted Cat, one of the smallest wild cats in the world, was recorded alive for the first time in the Shergarh Sanctuary of Baran district, Rajasthan, through camera trap evidence in January 2026.
About Rusty spotted Cat
- Among the world’s smallest felines
- Nocturnal, shy, and solitary in nature
- Comes together only during breeding season
- Primarily a carnivore
- Plays an ecological role in seed dispersal through fruits sticking to its fur
Conservation Status
- Near Threatened (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Faces threats from habitat loss, road kills, and low detectability
Habitat and Distribution
- Forests and scrublands
- Found in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India
- First live record in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan
- Earlier road kill recorded in Shahabad area of Baran district in December 2023
About Shergarh Sanctuary
- Located in Baran district
- Part of the Hadoti region
- Dry deciduous forest ecosystem
- Increasing use of camera trapping for wildlife monitoring
| [2023] Consider the following fauna:
1. Lion-tailed Macaque 2. Malabar Civet 3. Sambar Deer How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None |
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