The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

91
Rationale for assessment: The Golden Jackal (Canis
aureus) is considered Least Concern in view of a
large distribution, presence within several protected
areas and assumed large population, which is
unlikely to be declining at a rate that would qualify
this species for a threatened category.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973).
National Population Size
This species is currently considered common,
however observational evidence indicate that the
population has declined over the past decade.
National Distribution
This species is one of the widest distributed
mammals in the country, occurring in all protected
areas of the lowlands and high hills and found in
almost all 75 districts.
Distribution outside Nepal
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bahrain, Bhutan,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Central African
Republic, Croatia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait,
51) Felis chaus (Schreber, 1777)
Common Names
Jungle Cat (English); Ban Biralo (Nepali)
Species Description
Pale grey-beige coloured coat with darker coloured
ears more reddish brown. Markings on the legs nd
short tail distinguish it from domestic cats.
Species Ecology
The Jungle Cat occurs in forests and grasslands and
near human settlements. The Jungle Cat primarily
feeds on rodents, and birds (including chickens),
although they are capable of killing young swine
and Chital fawns.
Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Mauritania,
Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania,
Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab
Emirates, Viet Nam, Western Sahara, Yemen.
Main Threats
• Persecution.
• Poaching for medicinal purposes (the meat of
the Golden Jackal is thought to cure arthritis).
• Flooding which damages dens and holes.
• Reduction of natural prey base.
• Canine diseases (including rabies, canine
distemper).
References
Suwal and Verheugt 1995, Sillero-Zubiri et al. 2004 (and references therein), Baral and Shah 2008,
Nepal Red List of Mammals Field Technicians Workshop 2010.
Age at first reproduction is approximately 15
months, producing a litter of one to six young after
a gestation period of 63 to 68 days. The longevity of
the Jungle Cat is up to 14 years.