Many rare cats in Indonesia can become extinct

Rare cats in Indonesia are at risk of extinction because of deforestation, the International Nature Conservation Fund (WWF) announced yesterday.

Asian wild cats are one of five species that are in danger of extinction. (Photo: WWF)

The WWF survey at Bukit Tigapuluh captured images of rare cats at risk of extinction in the forests of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, where forest areas are severely depleted such as Asian wild cats, marble strip cats, Yellow cat and forest cat.

They are found in an unprotected forest corridor in the middle of Bukit Tigapuluh forest and Rimbang Baling wildlife shelter in Riau province, Indonesia. The area is under threat of deforestation for industrial crops.

"Four of the five cats are protected under Indonesian government regulations and listed on the list of endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List", Karmila Parakkasi, coordinator of the WWF - Indonesia Tiger Research Group, told Livescience.

This survey lasted 3 months along the forest corridor in Indonesia to collect 404 photos of wild cats.