Rare Visayan leopard cat gets spotted in Ajuy, Iloilo

A rare Visayan leopard cat, known as "maral" by locals, was spotted in Ajuy, Iloilo.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Monday, Rodhen Baño was supposed to pick fruit in the forest until he saw a cat with spots in one of the trees.

Baño said the cat did not fight nor resist when they tried to get it for turning over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"'Di na siya lumaban kasi matamlay na siya. Wala na siyang lakas [It didn't fight because it was lethargic. It had no strength]," he said.

Thankfully, Biodiversity Conservation Unit and Protected Area Management chief Samiel Calaguio said the cat had no wounds. It just needs to be fed and taken care of before it gets released again.

The Visayan leopard cat is among the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list. It is now considered a "vulnerable" species, one that is close to vanishing from nature.

Just last February, a Visayan leopard cat was found dead in Pandan, Antique. Its cause of death was not known.

Among those helping to preserve the life of this cat breed is the Mariit Wildlife and Conservation Park in Lambunao, Iloilo. They currently have three Visayan leopard cats, which they also use for breeding.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News