JUNGLE CAT (Felis chaus)

The jungle cat is the largest of the Felis genus. These cats are pale brown in color, with their distinguishing feature being their tufted ears. Although small prey forms its diet it is strong enough to bring down an axis deer fawn.
Despite their name, jungle cats are not found in tropical rainforests, but in grasslands and tropical dry forests. This preference for grasslands allows them to inhabit the “chena” zone of the dry zone study sites of Yala Buffer Zone, Sigiriya and Gal Oya.
Distribution: Found throughout Sri Lanka. Internationally it has a wide but patchy distribution from Egypt to south west Asia to Central and tropical Asia; the Caspian region and the Caucuses of Europe.
Status: Near Threatened (National Conservation Status); Least Concern (Global Conservation Status)