Pallas” Cat, sometimes dubbed the “original grumpy cat” due to its unusual appearance, appears to be alive and well in Iran. Pallas cat kittens have recently been photographed, a hopeful sign, according to Iran Front Page.
According to Iran Front page:
“According to the head of Kerman’s Department of Environment, one of the local environmental volunteers succeeded in observing two Pallas’s cat cubs in the mountainous area of Rabor County, capturing an image of one of them.
Due to the considerable distance between the two cubs, photographing the second one was not possible.
“Officials sa”y this rare sighting suggests a potential increase in the local population of this vulnerable species, which is known for its reclusive nature and declining numbers across its native range in Central Asia and parts of the Iranian plateau.”
“The Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), also known as the manul, is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to habitat loss, prey depletion, and other environmental pressures. The species is extremely difficult to monitor due to its solitary behavior and elusive presence.
Conservation experts in Iran consider repeated sightings of the animal in Kerman a positive indicator and are calling for heightened protection measures to safeguard its habitat and support possible population recovery in the region.”
Pallas cats (Otocolobus manul) are native to Central Asia. They live in fragmented populations in, Russia, China, Iran and Mongolia. The Indian subcontinent and several other central and South Asian countries have populations as well, The cats are about two feet long and under 10 pounds in weight.
Since the cats are reclusive and thought to be rare, numbers and exact habitat are conjectural. Recent discovery of the cats on the slopes of Mt. Everest were of great interest to scientists.
The cat was named after naturalist Peter Simon Pallas who first described it. It is frequently known as a manul. This cat has attracted considerable public and scientific attention. Much conservation effort has been awarded to it. The recent completion of the cat’s genome is expected to greatly improve conservation success. About 60 zoos worldwide are involved in breeding and conservation efforts