Jungle Cat

Jungle Cat

Felis chaus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Wilpattu National Park
7 Verified records at Wilpattu National Park
February Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The jungle cat (Felis chaus), also called reed cat and swamp cat, is a medium-sized cat native from the Eastern Mediterranean region and the Caucasus to parts of Central, South and Southeast Asia. It inhabits foremost wetlands like swamps, littoral and riparian areas with dense vegetation. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, and is mainly threatened by destruction of wetlands, trapping and poisoning. The jungle cat has a uniformly sandy, reddish-brown or grey fur without spots; melanistic and albino individuals are also known. It is solitary in nature, except during the mating season and mother–kitten families. Adults maintain territories by urine spraying and scent marking. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Jungle Cat sighting in Wilpattu National Park, based on 7 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Wilpattu National Park

Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

70–80% · Very likely
Fishing Cat
VU Endemic

Fishing Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Prionailurus viverrinus

Insufficient data
Rusty-spotted Cat
NT Endemic

Rusty-spotted Cat

Mammal

Prionailurus rubiginosus

Insufficient data
Ruddy Mongoose

Ruddy Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes smithii

70–80% · Very likely
Sloth Bear
VU Endemic

Sloth Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Melursus ursinus

70–80% · Very likely
Asian Jackal
LC

Asian Jackal

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Canis aureus

60–70% · Likely
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

20–30% · Possible
Small Indian Civet
LC Endemic

Small Indian Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Viverricula indica

20–30% · Possible
Eurasian Otter
NT

Eurasian Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lutra lutra

Insufficient data
Stripe-necked Mongoose

Stripe-necked Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes vitticollis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
40–50
Feb
20–30
Mar
30–40
Apr
5–10
May
5–10
Jun
<5
Jul
30–40
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
5–10
Nov
30–40
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
40–50%
2 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
20–30%
3 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
4 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
5 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
6 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
7 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Jungle Cat in Wilpattu National Park?

About 23% of wildlife watchers report a Jungle Cat sighting in Wilpattu National Park, based on 7 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Jungle Cat in Wilpattu National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Jungle Cat in Wilpattu National Park in our monthly data.

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