Distribution of Marbled Cats, Borneo Bay Cats and Asiatic Golden Cats
The three cats of the Bay Cat Lineage - Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata), Borneo Bay Cat (Catopuma badia), and Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) - are all native to the forests of Southeast Asia, yet they occupy distinct habitats and ranges.
The Marbled Cat, known for its striking coat pattern, is primarily found in forests across the Southeast Asian mainland and parts of Indonesia, with a preference for dense, tropical rainforests and montane regions. It is considered elusive and often inhabits regions of low human disturbance.
The Borneo Bay Cat, restricted to the island of Borneo, inhabits lowland rainforests and montane regions, making it one of the rarest and least understood of the group.
Lastly, the Asiatic Golden Cat has a more extensive range, found in tropical and subtropical forests across South and Southeast Asia, including parts of India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Southeast Asia, thriving in a range of habitats from dense forests to more open woodlands.
Despite their differing ranges, all three species are closely linked to forested environments and are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation and human encroachment.
Click on the maps for a detailed description of the countries and habitat types of each cat.
Status: Near Threatened
Status: Endangered
Status: Near Threatened
Status and Numbers of Marbled Cats, Borneo Bay Cats and Asiatic Golden Cats
Marbled Cats
The Marbled Cat is currently classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List, with its population declining due to habitat loss and poaching.
Although specific population estimates are not available as at the last global assessment in 2015, it is believed that the species may number more than 10,000 individuals across it's fragmented distribution across Southeast Asia, however with declining numbers in many areas due to deforestation and human encroachment.
Borneo Bay Cats
The Borneo Bay Cat is listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List as at the last global assessment in 2014, with an estimated population of fewer than 2,200 individuals, based on its restricted distribution in Borneo and limited sightings.
This elusive species is highly vulnerable to habitat loss, as much of its forest habitat is being cleared for agriculture.
Asiatic Golden Cats
The Asiatic Golden Cat is listed as Near Threatened (NT), however as at the last global assessment in 2014 there have been no density estimates across its range in South and Southeast Asia and thus it is not possible to estimate the current population size.
Although it has a broader distribution compared to the other two, its numbers are also in decline due to habitat degradation, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
All three species face significant conservation challenges, with habitat loss being a primary threat across their ranges.
IUCN Red List Status - Global, Regional & Country
There are three geographic levels that a species can be assessed for their IUCN Red List status - global, region and country.
The global IUCN Red List status applies to the species across its entire range, whereas further assessments may be conducted at smaller regional levels and might determine a different status.
Individual countries may also conduct assessments either using the IUCN Red List methodology or have their own internal methodology with different status ranking and terminology.
Regional assessments conducted under the auspices of the IUCN Red List are published on the IUCN Red List website. However individual country assessments are usually conducted by an environmental authority of that country and the reports are published on that authority's website.