19th November 2024: Three leopard cat cubs were rescued from Chambang Kra Daadi district, Arunachal Pradesh in the month of June 2024. They were initially discovered by local residents of Chambang Basti, who promptly alerted forest authorities. Following this, they were transferred to the Itanagar Zoological Park.  After a few days in their care, the cubs were handed over to the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) in Pakke Tiger Reserve for further rehabilitation.  The centre is jointly run by Pakke Tiger Reserve Park Authority, the Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Arunachal Pradesh and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The leopard cat cubs were placed under the care of the CBRC team | Photo by Dr. Panjit Basumatary

When they arrived at CBRC, the cubs were very small and weak. They were hand-raised by the IFAW-WTI veterinarians and keepers for the next four months to ensure their survival and growth. Rehabilitation prospects of small cats like leopard cats depend strongly on the successful hand-raising of the young.

Earlier this week, they were shifted into Pakke Tiger Reserve for soft release. All three individuals will be acclimatising at the release site for about three months, gradually adjusting to the wild before being fully reintroduced, following the soft-release protocol for small cats developed by WTI.

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is found across India except in the Deccan plateau and arid West India. Habitat loss is one of the major threats to this species, listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act.

The Pakke Park authority, in collaboration with WTI, has been rescuing wild animals in distress for two decades and prioritising their release back into their natural habitat. The hand-raising and rehabilitation of leopard cat cubs in Pakke Tiger Reserve is a first for the region.

The cubs are acclimatising to the soft release enclosure | Photo by WTi team

“We hope they can adapt to the forest and fend for themselves in their natural habitat,” said Dr. Subhashish Arandhara, Ecologist, WTI.

Shri Satyaprakash Singh, IFS, DFO & Field Director, Pakke Tiger Reserve highlighted that the successful rescue and rehabilitation of the leopard cat cubs symbolises the essence of conservation—emphasising the collaboration with WTI & local community, care for wildlife, and the commitment to returning these animals to its rightful home. He also noted that Pakke Tiger Reserve is proud to lead such pioneering efforts, ensuring that even the smallest of wild cats have a chance to thrive in the wild.