Images of an Asian golden cat have been captured at a report excessive elevation within the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve in Metog county, Xizang autonomous area.
The infrared footage was recorded at an elevation of 4,415 meters, surpassing the earlier report of 4,300 meters in Lhari county, Nagchu, Xizang.
The Asian golden cat is a first-class nationwide protected wild species and has been listed as close to threatened on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List.
According to Li Cheng, an professional on the Asian golden cat from Xizijiang Ecological Conservation Center, the worldwide inhabitants of those cats has skilled a big decline in recent years resulting from components such because the loss and fragmentation of habitat.
“In China, sightings of the Asian golden cat have been recorded in locations equivalent to southeastern Xizang, western Sichuan, western and southern Yunnan, southern Gansu and southern Shaanxi up to now two years. Currently, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon area hosts a comparatively giant inhabitants of those cats,” he mentioned.
“Moreover, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon space is likely one of the most various and complicated areas by way of the colour variations of the Asian golden cat. At current, not less than six coloration variations have been recorded, together with tawny, reddish-brown, deep crimson, marbled, grey and black. The genetic range right here is comparatively nicely preserved,” he added.
“In the infrared digital camera footage, an grownup Asian golden cat was seen surveying the ridgeline of a high-altitude meadow earlier than slowly passing in entrance of the digital camera,” Zhao Xiang, director of the Shan Shui Conservation Center, a nongovernment organization devoted to species conservation.
Li mentioned Asian golden cats typically inhabit tropical and subtropical forests. At elevations of over 4,000 meters, the place snow covers the bottom for half of the yr, it’s the area of snow leopards, somewhat than the standard habitat for Asian golden cats.
“The discovery of the Asian golden cat at such a excessive altitude not solely enhances our understanding of their conduct but in addition signifies their broad vary of exercise and good adaptability,” he added.
The forestry and grassland bureau of Metog county, in collaboration with the Shan Shui Conservation Center, the Peking University Center for Nature Conservation and Social Development, and the Xizijiang Ecological Conservation Center, has performed infrared digital camera surveys with the help of the China Green Carbon Foundation and the Zhongjin Public Welfare Foundation.
The analysis crew has arrange 304 infrared cameras, recording over 300 cases of Asian golden cat exercise at 105 areas, starting from 812 to 4,415 meters in elevation.
