Pallas Cat - Otocolobus manul

The Pallas cat, or manul, was first described by the German naturalist, Peter Pallas. With its long hair, stocky build and flattened face, Pallas incorrectly suggested that it was the ancestor of the Persian domestic cat. In 2011, Port Lympne transferred its Pallas cats to a newly designed, spacious and open top enclosure which can be seen along the pathway through Carnivore Territory.

HABITAT: The Pallas cat is found in cold and dry environments throughout Central Asia from Iran to Western China. They are most abundant in Inner Mongolia, on the Mongolian grasslands and the Tibetan Plateau at altitudes up to 4800m. Elsewhere within its range, the species is considered vulnerable to rare and uncommon

CHARACTERISTICS: Fur colour varies between subspecies and geographic region, from russet red to sandy grey. The longer hair on its belly and tail serve as extra insulation against the cold and its low set, rounded ears are ideal for hunting in open country with little cover. They are most commonly found in areas of flat, rolling steppe where deep snow is absent; while it’s thick fur and compact body enables it to cope with the cold conditions encountered at up to 4,000 metres. The pupils of the Pallas cats’ eyes close down to a circular opening, rather than a vertical slit as in many other small cats. The low profile of its head is an adaptation to hunting in open country where there is little cover.

BIOLOGY: Pallas cats are elusive and solitary animals and are active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). Their most common prey is a small rabbit-like rodent called the pika. While pikas often make up over 80% of the cats’ diet, they will also hunt other small rodents and birds. Pallas cats are experts in the art of ambush and have been observed hiding near burrow entrances waiting for their prey to emerge.
Pallas cats give birth to a relatively large litter of 4-6 kittens in April-May after a gestation period of 66 to 75 days. Females are sexually mature at one year with a breeding cycle that is controlled by the seasonal changes in daylight hours.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Once intensively hunted for their fur, this was prohibited in 1988. Although trade in their pelts has since declined, illegal hunting still continues within reserve boundaries. Their pelts are sold in local markets and body parts are used for medicinal purposes, while live animals are sought for international markets. In recent years Pallas cats have disappeared from much of the Caspian region and from the easternmost parts of their range in China due to over-hunting. Ongoing fieldwork in Mongolia aims to conduct biological research, revise and enforce national legislation on hunting quotas, set up a monitoring program and develop an education program to increase awareness of the importance of conserving this species

The most significant threat to the Pallas Cat is from large scale poisoning to control pika populations. Pika are considered to be carriers for the plague and they also compete with domestic stock for grazing. This has resulted in significant declines of the Pallas cats’ most important prey, and there is a threat of secondary poisoning from eating contaminated animals.

A major problem encountered in captive breeding is their susceptibility to the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis. As kittens are highly susceptible to this disease, the first few weeks are a critical time in their survival and development.