Indonesian Golden Cat Dies in Captivity in West Sumatra

PADANG, KOMPAS.com – The plight of a golden cat caught in an animal trap in Agam, West Sumatra has come to a tragic end after the rare species died in captivity.

Authorities from the Bukittinggi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Bukittinggi) and the Bukittinggi Zoo said that the feline has drawn his last breath at the zoo’s veterinary hospital.

“We assume that the golden cat died of anemia and dehydration despite our best efforts to save its life,” said BKSDA Bukittinggi head Erly Sukrismanto to Kompas.com on Friday, June 19.

Plans to release into the wild

“We have had plans to release the golden cat back into the wild, away from human habitation, once he has gotten better,” added Erly of the cat, which has been identified as a four-year-old male. “His condition actually improved before his untimely death.”

Also read: Golden Cat Gets Tangled Up in Wild Boar Trap in Indonesia's West Sumatra Farm

On Tuesday, June 16, the authorities found the cat tangled up in a trap for wild boars in the village of Kamang Mudiak. The trap, which injured the animal’s front left paw, was set up in the villagers’ vegetable garden.

A threatened species

Also known as a fire cat, the golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is a protected species throughout the 12 countries they call home.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) considers a golden cat as one of the forest cats, alongside the tiger, leopard, and clouded leopard.

Also read: Indonesian Man Forms Bond With Crocodile in East Kalimantan

Classified as near threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the the medium-sized golden cat’s habitat includes grasslands, forests, and farms.

In Indonesia they can only be found in Sumatra island. IUCN noted that its numbers has dropped about 20 percent because of habitat loss and poaching for their fur and other body parts. 

Villagers in Sumatra are also known to kill the cat for preying on livestock.

(Writer: Perdana Putra/ Editor : Aprillia Ika)

Sources:

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/06/19/07350061/kucing-emas-langka-yang-terjerat-perangkap-babi-akhirnya-mati?page=all.