Only 5 Big Cats of Felidae Family in India

The wild forest of India is home to three largest species of felidae and two sub species of Leopard, these apex predators are now fall in the category of endangered due to habitat loss, poaching and deforestation. Five cats of felidae family are Indian Lion,Indian Tiger,Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopard.

Cheetah reintroduction in India initiated by Government of India to re-introduce cheetahs to India. There are good number of Cheetah being introduced in Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh and the population of Indian-born cheetahs has reached 13.

Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)

Indian lion or Asiatic lion are the big cats exists in the Gir Forest National Park of Gujarat and listed as endangered due its small population of 411. The Endangered Asian lions are heavily protected in India’s Gir Forest and is the state animal of Gujarat.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

Panthera Tigris Tigris is the national animal of India and has been classified as endangered with an estimated 2226 individuals in the wild forest of Indian subcontinent. The Bengal tiger is largest cat from the family of felidae five big cats of India and number about half of all wild tigers live in India and are called Indian tigers.

Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)

Indian Leopard is the most amazing and magnificent cat from the felidae family and known as one of the best predator in the world. Leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent but due to habitat loss, poaching and the illegal trade of skins, now classified as near threatened. Human leopard conflict is the major concern because of agriculturally land, livestock, habitat loss and decrease of wild prey.

Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

Snow leopard occasionally called ounce, is one of the most rare and beautiful gray leopard lives in the high altitudes snow mountain ranges of the Himalayas in Indian subcontinent and is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh. The mountain cat is a large wild cat and listed as endangered due to total population in wild 2500, because of killings,poaching, habitat loss and the decline of the cats large mammal prey.

Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

Clouded leopard is classified as Vulnerable due the total population of 1,000 adults found only in the greater Himalayan foothills of northern seven states of Indian subcontinent and is the state animal of Meghalaya. The big cats and the small cat is the smallest of all the five big cats found in India and are the most talented climbers among and its habits remain a bit mysterious.