Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: A new study confirms Arunachal Pradesh is a biodiversity hotspot for the Asiatic golden cat. Scientists documented seven distinct coat colours in the state’s West Kameng district. This is big news for cat experts.
The findings appeared in the journal Mammalian Biology. Researchers used camera traps to track the elusive feline between 2022 and 2025. They identified golden, cinnamon, grey, black, ocelot-patterned, brown, and red forms in West Kameng. The Sikkim Teesta basin survey recorded three forms: cinnamon, red, and grey.
The team tracked 106 sites in West Kameng and 172 in the Teesta basin. Elevations ranged from 500 to 5,500 metres. Most sightings occurred above 2,000 metres. One golden cat was spotted at 3,382 metres in West Kameng, while a grey variant appeared at 3,737 metres in Sikkim.
Researchers observed red and golden cats living in the same West Kameng habitat. Their similar sizes hint at a mating pair. However, the study noted, "there is no evidence of colour-based mate preferences in felids."
The Eastern Himalaya supports far more colour variation than areas like Sumatra or Peninsular Malaysia. Experts believe the rugged terrain and diverse forest types drive this adaptation. The project was supported by the Department of Science and Technology under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem. Authors from the Wildlife Institute of India are now calling for more genetic research to explain how these diverse coat patterns evolved.
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