The marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) is a small wild cat of South and Southeast Asia. Since 2002 it has been listed as vulnerable by IUCN as it occurs at low densities, and its total effective population size is suspected to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, with no single population numbering more than 1,000.
Indiscriminate snaring is prevalent throughout much of its range and is likely to pose a major threat. It is valued for its skin, meat and bones, but infrequently observed in the illegal Asian wildlife trade. During a survey in the Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh a marbled cat was encountered that had been killed by a local hunter for a festival celebrated by the indigenous Apatani community in the month of March and April every year. The dead cat was used in a ceremony, and its blood was sacrificed to the deity for goodwill of their family and for ensuring a good harvest, protection from wildlife, disease and pest.
Pardofelis marmorata is included in CITES Appendix I and protected over parts of its range. Hunting is prohibited in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Yunnan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. Hunting is regulated in Lao PDR and Singapore. In Bhutan and Brunei the marbled cat is not legally protected outside protected areas. No information about protection status is available from Cambodia and Vietnam.
Source: Wikipedia
