Iriomote wild cat released

[vogelcommando]

After recovering from a car-accident an Iriomote wild cat was released again into the wild :

Ryukyu Shimpo – Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news An Iriomote wild cat released back into the wild after recovering from injuries in a car accident

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Always good to get a decent photograph of a living Iriomote Cat.

 

[LaughingDove]

Are the any in captivity then? I assume not based on your comment about photographing them. Something or someone like Durrel needs to get onto them.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Are the any in captivity then? I assume not based on your comment about photographing them. Something or someone like Durrel needs to get onto them.

The only captive animals have been those occasionally found in rescue/rehabilitation centres for animals injured by vehicles - none are on public display.

By the by, this is the best footage of the taxon I have found online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wMGDZIzjd0

 

[vogelcommando]

Great clip, hadn't seen it before, Thanks for sharing TLD !

 

[vogelcommando]

Bad news from Iriomote Island :

Iriomote Cat killed in traffic accident on Iriomote island for third time this year

 

[Dassie rat]

When the Iromote wild cat was discovered, it was placed in its own genus, Mayailurus. The last I heard, it was a subspecies of the leopard cat, but the article says it is a species. Has there been another change or has the journalist made a mistake?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

It's a case of consensus not being entirely settled between three options:

1) Distinct species within Prionailurus
2) Distinct subspecies within Prionailurus bengalensis
3) Synonymous with Amur Cat (P. b. euptilura)

The only agreement is that Mayailurus is invalid.