Man-Made Pond in Goa Leads to State's First Leopard Cat Photographic Record

A small, man-made pond established by wildlife researchers Akshita Pungaliya and Atul Borker near Goa's Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary led to the state's first photographic documentation of a mainland leopard cat. On March 7, 2024, at 12:54 am, a camera trap recorded five short video clips of the elusive wild cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) drinking from the pond, a discovery published in the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Cat News in 2025, according to The Better India.

The researchers, who co-founded Vanasa Conservation Foundation in 2023 to protect lesser-known wildlife, initially aimed to address a simpler concern. Every February, a freshwater stream in the private forest patch bordering the sanctuary would dry up, reducing water sources for animals during hotter months. Akshita and Atul wondered if a small artificial pond could provide water and decided to install one, along with a camera trap to monitor its usage.

To select a suitable location, the team walked through the forest, identifying small trails, fruit remains, and disturbed leaf litter as signs of regular mammal activity. They then dug a small pond, lined it, and filled it with 40 litres of water. The camera trap was placed nearby to observe if animals would discover and repeatedly use this new water source.

Initial recordings quickly revealed a variety of visitors, including birds, mongooses, and squirrels. As monitoring continued over 390 camera-trap nights, larger animals such as Indian gaur and leopards, along with giant squirrels, were also captured on footage. Akshita noted that some animals returned to the spot, suggesting they were becoming familiar with the water source, moving from accidental discovery to recognition.

The five clips of the mainland leopard cat were a particular highlight for the researchers, given the species' elusive nature and the scarcity of previous records in the region. While the mainland leopard cat is one of Asia's most widespread wild cats, found across parts of India, Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Russian Far East, and listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, photographic sightings in the northern Western Ghats, including Goa, have been rare.

Leopard cats are small, shy, mostly nocturnal, and move through dense vegetation, making them challenging to observe and photograph. Akshita explained that they "don't work the same way tigers or leopards do" due to their size and behavior. Furthermore, research on smaller carnivores often receives less funding compared to larger species or those in conflict with humans, making confirmed photographic records like this particularly valuable.

Such records provide scientists with a starting point for further research, indicating a species' presence in a specific landscape. Leopard cats play an important role in forest ecosystems by feeding on rodents and other small animals, helping to regulate prey populations. Understanding their movements and habitats is crucial for comprehending forest ecosystem functions.

The creation of the artificial pond is a relatively low-cost intervention, estimated at Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000, with basic camera traps costing Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. Akshita suggests that nature resorts in Karnataka are already considering similar initiatives. For private properties bordering forests, carefully planned projects can contribute to conservation and offer insights into local wildlife, though careful monitoring is needed to understand how different animals, including larger predators, might respond.

Why it matters: Simple conservation efforts can yield significant scientific discoveries about local wildlife.

Editor's note: The draft provides a thorough and accurate account of the research project, the methodology, and the significance of the findings.