Status of Asiatic Wild Cat and its habitat in Xinjiang Tarim Basin, China

Ablimit Abdukadir, Babar Khan

World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan, Gilgit, Pakistan.
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China;.

DOI: 10.4236/oje.2013.38063                

Abstract

The Asiatic Wild CatFelis silvestris ornataisregarded as “Least concerned” (LC) first, as “Vulnerable” (VU) and following “Endangered” (EN) and then “Critically endangered” (CR) species as finally and originally concentrative distribute in Xinjiang Tarim Basin region in northwest China. This paper provides comprehensive information on bio-morphology, habitat selectivity, environmental condition, habit, preyfeed source and every item of composition, and relationship among Wild Cat and domestic cat at presence investigated in 2004-2006 and 2011- 2013 as especial study. The paper also illustrated some dynamical statistics of wild cat’ pelt collection by national trade from three prefectures in the last 40 years. Briefing the results of indication that large scale and continuous openup land for cotton in unplanned, exploit petroleum and natural gas, misapply water and destroy desert vegetation, poaching and killing prey objectives, etc., of them long-term effects on plants functional density and qualities of the cat surviving habitat and productivity, whereas pressures of increasing human population to fragile desert ecosystem showed efficiency and desirable effects of the cat surviving.

 

Keywords

Asiatic Wild Cat; Tarim Basin; Distribution; Habitat; Xinjiang

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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