• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2021

This study is designed according to the fact that the feces presumed to be from a Prionailurus bengalensis was found in Ulleungdo Island, where Prionailurus bengalensis is not known to inhabit, and that visual observation of the feces may cause errors in species identification. The feces observed in Ulleungdo Island on October 21, 2019 and August 29, 2020, in Gyeongju on December 4, 2020, and in Jecheon on December 7, 2020 was found intactly on grass, not buried in the ground. Although it was difficult to distinguish and identify the feces of Felis catus and Prionailurus bengalensis with visual observation, the feces collected from Ulleungdo Island was closely related to the Felis catus according to the genetic analysis whereas the ones collected from Gyeongju and Jecheon was identified from Prionailurus bengalensis. Therefore through the gene analysis, this study proved that visual observation of feces with similar appearance, specifically the feces found in Ulleungdo Island, Gyeongju, and Jecheon, may cause errors in species identification. It is judged to be necessary to analyze fields signs and genes for the species identification when using the feces of Felis catus and Prionailurus bengalensis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.56-58
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• 2009

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2018

Because of the potential negative influence on their hosts, ecto-parasites are of prime importance to numerous species. Ticks are among these, distributed worldwide, and potentially transmitting diseases while sucking blood of diverse hosts. The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura Elliot, 1871) is the only felid left in the Republic of Korea following widespread anthropogenic disturbances that have resulted in the extinction of both Panthera species: the Siberian tiger(Panthera tigris altaica Temminck, 1844) and Amur leopard (P. pardus orientalis(Schlegel, 1857)). This study identifies ticks collected from a roadkill leopard cat retrieved in Seosan area in the Republic of Korea. Two ticks attached to the facial area of the carcass were identified as Japanese hard ticks, Ixodes nipponensis, based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I. The matching sample was from Japan with 99.7% similarities, and the only available sequence on GenBank. This study reconfirms that I. nipponensis parasitizes the endangered leopard cat P. bengalensis euptilura.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2018

This study aims to explore the knowledge structure of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) research during the period of 1952-2017. Data was collected from Google Scholar and Research Information Service System (RISS), and a total of 482 author keywords from 125 papers from peer-reviewed scholarly journals were retrieved. Co-word analysis was applied to examine patterns and trends in the leopard cat research by measuring the association strengths of the author keywords along with the descriptive analysis of the keywords. The result shows that the most commonly used keywords in leopard cat research were Felidae, Iriomte cat, and camera trap except for its English and scientific name, and camera traps became a frequent keyword since 2005. Co-word analysis also reveals that leopard cat research has been actively conducted in Southeast Asia in conjugation with studying other carnivores using the camera traps. Through the understanding of the patterns and trends, the finding of this study could provide an opportunity for the exploration of neglected areas in the leopard cat research and conservation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2009

A habitat model was developed to delineate potential habitat of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a mountainous region of Kangwon Province, Korea. Between 1997 and 2005, 224 leopard cat presence sites were recorded in the province in the Nationwide Survey on Natural Environments. Fifty percent of the sites were used to develop a habitat model, and the remaining sites were used to test the model. Fourteen environmental variables related to topographic features, water resources, vegetation and human disturbance were quantified for 112 of the leopard cat presence sites and an equal number of randomly selected sites. Statistical analyses (e.g., t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis) showed that elevation, ridges, plains, % water cover, distance to water source, vegetated area, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, and distance to paved road differed significantly (P < 0.01) between presence and random sites. Stepwise logistic regression was used to develop a habitat model. Landform type (e.g., ridges vs. plains) is the major topographic factor affecting leopard cat presence. The species also appears to prefer deciduous forests and areas far from paved roads. The habitat map derived from the model correctly classified 93.75% of data from an independent sample of leopard cat presence sites, and the map at a regional scale showed that the cat's habitats are highly fragmented. Protection and restoration of connectivity of critical habitats should be implemented to preserve the leopard cat in mountainous regions of Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.68.1-68.6
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• 2023

Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a small wild cat assessed as an endangered wildlife in Korea. There have been very few reports of their diseases. Herein, we describe fibrinous pleuritis caused by Streptococcus canis infection with excessive pleural effusion, hydropericardium, mild ascites, and liver fibrosis in a leopard cat. S. canis is a commensal microflora in domestic cats and often affects the upper respiratory tract inducing chronic and severe respiratory diseases. However, there is no literature regarding the S. canis in leopard cats. Therefore, we first report fibrinous pleuritis associated with an S. canis infection in a leopard cat.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.801-811
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• 2012

For biodiversity conservation, Biological Impact Assessment is very important. The focus of the study is to enhance efficient Environment Impact Assessment(EIA) based on collecting existing information of endangered species covering the status survey, estimation of effects and reducing methods. Habitat Suitability Index(HSI) can be applicable to Ecological Impact Assessment and finding various reducing methods based on estimating effects. For this study, the EIA report of Samjang - Sanchung highway construction was chosen as an example and Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura as an endangered species was chosen to assess the ecosystem impact on road construction. Water, road, ground coverage, slope, altitude as variables of habitat were weighted and final HSI map was calculated using Arc map and Arc view. Through comparing of before and after HSI, quantitative estimating on effects was possible to minimize impact of road construction to wildlife habitat.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.411-416
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• 2022

A 2.2 kg adult female Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) injured in a road accident was rescued. Severe abrasions on the left chin were washed daily with an antiseptic and silver sulfadiazine ointment was applied. Corneal edema of the oculus sinister (OS) was treated with ofloxacin and 5% sodium chloride eye drops. The skin wounds gradually improved, but the eye condition did not improve and the lens was also found to be detached. In addition, on the 6th day of hospitalization, melena was observed. On radiographic examination, foreign bodies in the stomach and a fracture of the sternum were confirmed. Subsequently, endoscopic removal of foreign bodies and enucleation of the OS using an electrothermal vessel sealer were performed sequentially over several days. However, corrective surgery of the fractured sternum was not carried out because a natural union of the fracture had occurred, which was found to be fairly stable. The patient completely recovered on the 83rd day and was successfully released into the wild on the 97th day, after two weeks of adaptation training in a natural environment. This report describes the rehabilitation of a wild Amur leopard cat injured in a road accident through a series of diagnostic and treatment steps until its eventual return to the wild and highlights some improvements needed in the process.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.385-389
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• 2019

Knowledge of abundance, or population size, is fundamental in wildlife conservation and management. Camera-trapping, in combination with capture-recapture methods, has been extensively applied to estimate abundance and density of individually identifiable animals due to the advantages of being non-invasive, effective to survey wide-ranging, elusive, or nocturnal species, operating in inhospitable environment, and taking low labor. We assessed the possibility of using coat patterns from images to identify an individual leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a Class II endangered species in South Korea. We analyzed leopard cat images taken from Digital Single-Lense Relfex camera (high resolution, 18Mpxl) and camera traps (low resolution, 3.1Mpxl) using HotSpotter, an image matching algorithm. HotSpotter accurately top-ranked an image of the same individual leopard cat with the reference leopard cat image 100% by matching facial and ventral parts. This confirms that facial and ventral fur patterns of the Amur leopard cat are good matching points to be used reliably to identify an individual. We anticipate that the study results will be useful to researchers interested in studying behavior or population parameter estimates of Amur leopard cats based on capture-recapture models.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.299-302
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• 2019

A clonorchiasis case in a captive leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, was confirmed by ultrasonographic findings and egg morphologies found in the bile juice sample in the Korea. The leopard cat was introduced from the wild habitat of Gyeongsangnam-do, to Cheongju Zoo in Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea in August 2014. Physical examinations were basically performed for quarantine and check-up health. The cat was comparatively good in health except anorexia. The cyst-like bile duct dilation and the increased echogenicity of gall bladder wall and hepatic parenchyma were observed by ultrasonography. Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy was conducted for collecting bile juice and the specimens were observed under light microscope. The numerous small trematode eggs were detected in the bile juice sample of the light microscopy. The eggs were $25-33(28{\pm}3){\mu}m$ by $18-22(20{\pm}1){\mu}m$ in size and showed typical characteristics of Clonorchis sinensis egg, i.e., a dominantly developed operculum, shoulder rim and dust-like wrinkles in surface. To treat the liver fluke infection, 20 mg/kg of praziquantel was orally administered only once to the case. Follow-up studies including fecal examinations were conducted during 2 years after treatment. But no more eggs were detected from the case. In the present study, we described the first clonorchiasis case of leopard cat, which was confirmed by ultrasonographic findings and egg morphologies from the bile juice sample in Korea.