Chinese mountain cat seen nursing cubs in Sanjiangyuan area

From: China Tibet Online

It is reported that the Chinese mountain cat, a species of felid unique to China, was seen nursing its cubs for the first time in Chindu County of Yushu, northwest China's Qinghai Province, based on the biodiversity monitoring and protection records.

Chinese mountain cat is a second class national protected animal in China, and a cat species found only in China. Chinese mountain cat, along with giant panda, is the only two kinds of carnivores unique to China. Currently, Chinese mountain cats are only seen in areas of Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu Provinces. Due to their discreet movements and small number, the data on them is very limited over the past years. Thus, this species is known as one of the most mysterious cat species in the world.

"Starting on September 20th, 2018, infrared cameras placed in Chindu County recorded a Chinese mountain cat's breeding cave, and continuously recorded the daily life of one female Chinese mountain cat and her two cubs," said Zhao Xiang, director of programs with the Shanshui Nature Reserve Center, a non-governmental organization on natural protection in China.

The records captured the life of a Chinese mountain cat family, where the two cubs, about two or three months old, are trained by their mom in skills such as capturing plateau pikas, and the records are very complete.

Chinese mountain cats are on the top of the food chain on the meadows, primarily eating birds and rodent species such as pikas. In the current monitoring, the Chinese mountain cat was recorded eating two plateau pikas per day, therefore, the protection of Chinese mountain cats is also critical to the meadow's ecology.