KOTA KINABALU - Researchers in Malaysia’s Borneo states have captured the world’s most elusive and endangered cat on film.

The beautiful Bornean bay cat, Catopuma badia, is so rare; a live cat was not even photographed until 1998!

Although the amazing video only lasts seven seconds, the chestnut-red cat with the long tail can be clearly seen walking through the forest. 

Because so little is known about this particular wild cat, even its eating habits are unknown, reported EcoWorldly, an environmentally-focussed news portal.

Endemic to Borneo forests

The report, published on Nov 8, said endemic to the forests of Borneo, threats to this elusive animal include illegal pet trade, poaching, deforestation and habitat loss largely due to palm oil plantations. 

Listed as endangered on the IUCN ‘red list’, it is estimated that only 2,500 Bornean bay cats remain in the wild today

{The IUCN is the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the world's main authority on the conservation status of species. A series of regional red lists are produced by countries or organisations, which assess the risk of extinction to species within a political management unit.)

Remarkable findings

Andrew Hearn and Joanna Ross, researchers from Britain’s Global Canopy Programme’s Bornean Wild Cat & Clouded Leopard Project, have been surveying five species of wild cats of Borneo for several years. 

Their work has uncovered some remarkable findings.

Besides capturing the world’s first ever video of the rare cat, the two are also credited for snapping the first photograph of a live bay cat.

Based in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, camera trapping and radio-tracking methods are utilised in their research.   The programme also provides educational materials, community surveys and training courses as well. 

Along with numerous photographs, the Borneon bay at video footage is available on the Monga Bay website.