Rare Asian Golden Cat rescued from snare in Malaysia

Sean Augustin New Straits Times 10 Nov 10;

KUALA LUMPUR: An Asian Golden cat was rescued by the Selangor Wildlife and National Parks department (Perhilitan) from a snare on Sunday.

The department rushed to its aid near the Hulu Langat Forest Reserve after it was spotted by a villager on his way to an orchard.

Weighing 11.45kg, the adult male Catopuma temminckii was rescued at 5.30pm and is under observation for a swollen left foreleg.

Once the feline has recovered, it will be sent to Malacca Zoo to help with the breeding of the species. The zoo is home to a pair of these rare cats.

Selangor Perhilitan director Rahmat Topani said while he was not sure who had set the snare, he had a feeling it was meant to capture wild boars.

"It was a bettersweet find for us. On one hand, the trapped animal means there is a healthy population in the jungle, but sad, because it was injured," he said when contacted, adding that the department did not find anymore snares when they searched the surrounding areas.


Listed as "near threatened" under the International Union for Conservation of Nature just two years ago, the Asian Golden Cat has dwindled due to habitat loss and hunting.

The cats live throughout Southeast Asia and is said to be a territorial and solitary species.

In Malaysia, the species is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972


Individuals can be fined a maximum RM3,000 or jailed two years or both if they are found guilty of possession.

Rahmat also reminded the public to call the department if wild animals were a nuisance, instead of setting up snares as it was illegal.

The punishment is a maximum fine of RM5,000 or jail of up to five years, or both.

Malaysia rescues rare golden cat from pot
Yahoo News 10 Nov 10;

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Malaysian wildlife authorities said Wednesday they rescued a rare Asian golden cat, which was caught in a snare and destined for the cooking pot.

Central Selangor state wildlife and national parks chief Rahmat Topani told AFP villagers in the south of the state alerted officials late Saturday after stumbling upon the trapped animal, known in some countries as a "firecat" because of its reddish-brown fur.

"The cat was caught in a snare which was meant for wild boars but we are concerned because such cats are very rare and usually end up sold for its meat and fur," he said.

"We have examined the cat and its right paw is slightly injured so we are waiting for it to heal before transferring the animal to a zoo in Malacca," he added.

The Asian golden cat, an elusive medium-sized wild cat, is found from Tibet to Sumatra, preferring forest habitats and rocky areas while hunting birds, large rodents and reptiles. They can also bring down much larger prey such as water buffalo calves.

Officials say they do not know how many of the felines, who are often hunted for their fur and meat, remain in the wild but that their numbers have been declining in recent years following a loss of habitat in the region.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the cat as near threatened, saying it comes close to qualifying as vulnerable because of the threats it faces.