BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Three juvenile Visayan leopard cats, locally known as maral, were rescued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
According to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the juvenile leopard cats were spotted in Barangay Luna.
DENR and CENRO officials, along with a veterinarian, checked the three felines – all were in good health.
The Visayan leopard cat is a small wild felid found in both Negros and Panay islands, according to CENRO.
In Negros Occidental, the feline lives in a variety of habitats including sugarcane plantations with woodlands, primary and secondary forests, and mixed tree plantations.
They have large eyes which allow them to see and forage at night.
The loss of the maral’s habitat often forces the species to live close to humans.
Aside from being sold as pets, adult Visayan leopard cat’s pelts are also gathered. This was blamed for their marked decline in population.
Visayan leopard cats are tagged as “vulnerable” species, especially as they have already lost 90 to 95 percent of their natural habitat in Panay and Negros.
The feline was also previously found in the neighboring islands of Cebu and Masbate, however, it is highly believed that they are already locally extinct or close to extinction in the said islands./PN
