In a significant development for wildlife documentation in Manipur, the elusive Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) has been recorded for the first time in the state through a camera trap in Shirui village of Ukhrul district.
The record, documented by ENFOGAL (Environmental Force at Grass Root Level), marks a notable addition to the documented wildlife of Manipur and highlights the ecological importance of the Shirui landscape.
The Asian golden cat is a wild feline native to South and Southeast Asia and is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Its elusive nature makes camera-trap monitoring an important method for documenting its presence in forest habitats.
The discovery underscores the importance of sustained wildlife monitoring and forest conservation in the Shirui Hills. Further surveys may help establish a clearer understanding of the species’ distribution and habitat use in Manipur.
