Camera Trap Captures Some of the World's Most Remarkable Wildcats
Unique photos of wildcats in their natural habitats
The Asian Golden Cat was captured by a custom-built DSLR camera trap in Malaysia, but the camera was later stolen by poachers. Fortunately, the initial set of images, including several shots of this shy animal, was recovered before the theft. The Malayan Tiger, another resident of Malaysia, is critically endangered, with fewer than 150 individuals remaining in the wild.
The Bornean Clouded Leopard, known as the “Ghost of the Forests,” is the largest land predator in Borneo. Its elusive nature means its presence is usually detected by tracks, scat, and other signs. One DSLR camera trap captured an adult male marking its territory, revealing its frequent visits to a specific mountain ridgetop.
Also in Borneo, the Sunda Leopard Cat, one of the smallest wildcat species, avoids main trails frequented by larger predators. A camera trap captured a female crossing a natural log bridge during her nocturnal hunt for small rodents and birds.
In northeastern Borneo, the Marbled Cat, Borneo’s most arboreal felid, was observed spending significant time on the ground in the mornings, possibly to avoid encounters with larger predators like the Clouded Leopard.
In Panama, an Ocelot was photographed by a camera trap with its fur covered in seeds from a neotropical rainforest grass (Pharus sp.). The seeds, adorned with tiny hooked hairs, efficiently attach to mammal fur, aiding in seed dispersal.
In the Ecuadorian Amazon, a Jaguar was captured on camera displaying its powerful build. This battle-scarred Jaguar prowls through its domain, showing its strength and resilience.