The acquitted leopard cat, is it a leopard or a cat?

A cat-sized ocelot appeared in the local news. This is the ocelot. So what are his stories?

Leopard cats are small cats similar in size to domestic cats. They live in various environments in China, from mangroves by the sea to grasslands above 4,000 meters above sea level on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Zhoushan, although an island, is no exception.

Ocelots are highly adaptable and prefer to be active at night, preying on small nocturnal animals such as rodents and birds, but they also often go out during the day.

In China, leopard cats are mainly distributed in the northern subspecies north of the Yellow River and the southern nominate subspecies. The northern subspecies is larger, weighing up to 6-7 kg in winter, with a darker fur color and unclear spots; while the southern nominate subspecies is slender, with bright fur and very clear spots. Due to its bright fur color, leopard cats have historically become an important target species for the fur trade, resulting in the threat of overhunting in many places. In recent years, due to factors such as habitat loss and illegal pet trade, the leopard cat population is still at risk of disorderly hunting.

As a small carnivore with a wide distribution and diverse diet, leopard cats play an important role in the ecosystem. They are the cornerstone species of the ecosystem and play a key role in maintaining the ecological balance. By preying on small animals such as rodents and birds, leopard cats control the number of these populations and maintain the stability of the food chain. At the same time, leopard cats are also prey for other carnivores, providing a food source for predators in the ecosystem.

Protecting leopard cats is one of the important tasks of protecting biodiversity. Taking effective protection measures, such as setting up protected areas, strengthening law enforcement to combat illegal trade, and promoting education, can help the leopard cat population recover and the healthy development of the ecosystem. Each of us should join the ranks of protecting leopard cats and work together to protect our precious natural resources.

The adjusted "National Key Protected Wildlife List" (hereinafter referred to as the "List") was officially released to the public in early 2021. The adjustment of the "List" has increased the number of key protected species, among which 13 cat species are all listed as key protected species. In addition to tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, snow leopards and other cats whose levels have not been adjusted, there are 5 cats whose protection levels have been adjusted that are particularly worthy of attention, including the leopard cat, which has been upgraded from no protection level to the national second level this time.

For a long time, the leopard cat has not been included in the "List". This small cat, similar in size to a domestic cat, is widely distributed in China. Except for the deserts, Gobi and plateau deserts in Xinjiang, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia, leopard cats may appear in almost all environments.