Pallas Cat Caught on Camera in the Himalyas

[joeybee12]

An elusive thick-furred feline has been caught on camera for the first time in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

A camera trap captured images of the fluffy Pallas's cat, also known as the manul, in the country's sprawling Wangchuck Centennial Park (WCP), which is also home to the snow leopard and Himalayan black bear. Pallas's cats had never been documented in the region before, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

"This is an exciting and remarkable discovery that proves that the Pallas's cat exists in the Eastern Himalayas," Rinjan Shrestha, a conservation scientist with WWF, said in a statement. "This probably indicates a relatively undisturbed habitat, which gives us hope, not only for the Pallas's cat, but also the snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and other threatened species that inhabit the region."

The cat is a primitive species that has evolved little in the past 5 million years. It's about the size of a house cat and slightly resembles a Persian cat with its flat face, high-set eyes and thick coat, which keeps it warm at high altitudes. The Pallas's cat's distinct gray fur with dark spots on its head also helps it blend in with mountainous habitats across Central Asia.

http://news.yahoo.com/sneaky-cat-caught-camera-himalayas-182058373.html

[slackmaster]

1. It looks pissed off

Definitely a cat.

[joeybee12]

4. See the third response...it looks intelligent, thoughtful in that photo...

Like Yoda!

[Warpy]

6. They're the size of house cats but unbelievably wild

The kittens are born hissing. There is amazing footage online from captive populations.

Trying to pet one would cost you your arm up to the elbow.

Naturally, they're my favorite cats in the world.

[dipsydoodle]

11. I think in time

they'll be crossbred as were bengals.

[Warpy]

23. They are an incredibly ancient breed

with so many major differences that I'm not sure crossbreeding is even possible. It would be incredibly hard on the domestic cat, in any case.

I just love the little old man beards and the round eyes and those incredibly heavy coats. Oh, and that something that little is so unbelievably vicious.

[whistler162]

15. The lasagna was cold!

[GoCubsGo]

2. Just in time for National Cat Day.

Cool stuff!

[justiceischeap]

3. Looks like a cross between a cat and a raccoon.

[joeybee12]

5. Looks like Yoda! nt

[tabasco]

7. I can haz yakburger?

[stuntcat]

8. I love the pictures!

It's beautiful! TY for the link

[athenasatanjesus]

9. I hadn't realized that Athene had a cat.

Or is she the cat?

[bmbmd]

10. Bravo.

A tip of the cap to the Pallas cat, and the adventurers who found them.

[kestrel91316]

12. Quick! Somebody tell graywarrior!

[catbyte]

14. Really! I was surprised she didn't start the thread.

[beac]

17. LOL.

I was gonna say "Pfffft! I see those cats on DU every day."

[d_r]

13. that's not a cat

its a baby yeti

[arcane1]

16. Those photos!!!!

[graywarrior]

18. !

[shanti]

19. hah!

i thought of you when i saw this post, graywarrior!

[graywarrior]

20. My little homies!

[joeybee12]

25. Is the second one photoshopped with the head on a domestic cat?

That licking of its lips is scary!

[graywarrior]

26. No, it's a Pallas cat....wild from Mongolia/Asia

[burrowowl]

21. Cute cat!

[Fawke Em]

22. OK... now where's the Yeti?

[dipsydoodle]

24. Maybe that's where they got some from for Cats.