Pallas' cat caught on trap camera in Karaganda region

According to the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, a total of 19 camera traps have been installed in the region since autumn 2023. In the past year, only two of these traps captured the presence of the Pallas' cat (Felis manul).

“Only two camera traps were able to capture the Pallas' cat, as the majority of them were positioned outside the core range to ascertain the northern extent of its distribution in the Karaganda region. The area is likely unsuitable for the wild cat due to the prevalence of heavy snowfall during the winter months,” Iliya Smelansky, a researcher from the association said.

Сamera traps in the area capture the presence of a second wild cat species, the lynx, annually. Additionally, the stone marten (Martes foina) was captured, and the Kazakh argali (Ovis ammon) was recorded in 17 out of 19 traps. Both species are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A total of 27 camera traps have been installed in order to facilitate the continued monitoring of the distribution of Pallas's cats and other rare animals in the Karaganda region for the forthcoming year.

Earlier it was reported that a rare Tien Shan brown (Himalayan) bear had been captured in the Zhongar-Alatau National Park.