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Elusive Pallas's Cat Nestles in Human House
30 Sep
Summary
- A Pallas's cat and three kittens found shelter in a Ladakh home.
- The family vacated the house for two months, allowing undisturbed rearing.
- Wildlife photographer documented unusual cat behavior, including swimming.
In a surprising turn of events, a Pallas's cat chose a human home in Ladakh's high-altitude village of Hanle as a nursery. The elusive feline and her three kittens settled in the residence of Tsering Topgyal and Palmo, who promptly alerted the Forest Department.
Respecting wildlife needs, the couple relocated temporarily, and the Forest Department secured the area. This allowed the mother cat to safely raise her young for two months, venturing out to hunt nearby voles and pikas.
Wildlife photographer Puskar Basu observed the cat for weeks, documenting its hunting strategies and even its rare swimming behavior in marshy terrain. This provided valuable insights into the Pallas's cat, known for its dense fur and adapted survival in extreme cold.
Though the family eventually departed, leaving the home free for its owners, the encounter highlighted the species' adaptability. The Pallas's cat, though classified as 'Least Concern,' faces threats from habitat degradation and canine predation.
