| Experts
split over ‘new’ tiger species |
DECCAN CHRONICLE. | NIDHIN T R
Published Apr 1, 2016, 6:42 am ISTUpdated Apr 1,
2016, 6:42 am IST
‘Neelagiri Kaduva’ on prowl at Kanjani.
The pug marks of 'Neelagiri Kaduva' found
at Kanjani in Thrissur.
|
THRISSUR: With the pug marks of a new species of
Big Cat first identified at Neyyar Dam in September
2014, found clearly matching the ones seen at Kanjani
in Thrissur on March 8, a debate over the new species
named ‘Neelagiri Kaduva’ is heating up among wildlife
officials and wildlife conservationists.
Wildlife expert Dijo Thomas said that this species
is reddish brown in colour, has the shape and size
similar to that of a Leopard with the face of a
dog. The new species that has been found is claimed
to be the eighth Big Cat in the world after the
Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah
and Mountain Lion.
Thomas, who is presently camped in Kanjani, said
that from all the data collected over a period of
12 years from all over Kerala, various conclusions
have been drawn and the animal is third in size
after the Tiger and Lion.
The new species belongs to an entirely new family
with the features of both Feline and Canid families.
Mr Dijo said that this could be the common ancestor
species from which the present day cat and dog families
evolved.
Thought he has not yet spotted the animal and is
yet to click the photograph of the animal, it has
been proved scientifically through a methodology
called Feature Based-Species Elimination Method
(FB-SEM) which he has devised and was approved by
scientists present in the 103rd Indian Science Congress.
A scientific paper on this new species, ‘NeelagiriKaduva’,
was presented at the Indian Science Congress held
at the University of Mysore in January 2016.
Even though the pug marks of ‘NeelagiriKaduva’ are
similar to that of the tiger, it has three distinguishing
features, the most important being that all the
marks have claws clearly visible, implying that
the claws are non-retractable.
However, officials of the Wildlife Department in
Kerala are still of the view that it is only a wild
cat and not a new species. But the wildlife experts
in the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) are
of the opinion that more studies need to be conducted
in the wake of the findings in Neyyar and Kanjani.
But the conservationists say they are ready for
a open debate with the officials of KFRI and Forest
Department.
Tags: tiger pug, Neelagiri Kaduva |
