Big and medium cats in Sindh

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Tigers (Sindhi:واگهه) were present in what is now Sindh until the early 20th century, with their extinction around 1906 and sporadic sightings until 1933.{{Cite web |last=Hewitt |first=Maryann |date=2024-06-22 |title=Do we have tigers in Pakistan? |url=https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-pedia/do-we-have-tigers-in-pakistan/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Geographic Pedia |language=en-US}} They were once common in regions like Khairpur and Sukkur districts of Sindh. Reports of tigers causing destruction are scarce; in Lower Sindh, they were virtually unheard of. In Upper Sindh, however, tigers would occasionally emerge from dense Tamarisk thickets and tall grass along riverbanks, venturing into cultivated areas to prey on stray cattle.Murray, J.A. (1884) The Vertebrate Zoology of Sind : a systematic account, with descriptions of all the known species of Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles inhabiting the province

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Leopards (Sindhi:چٽرن وارو چِيتو) have lived in the high lands of Sindh like Kirthar Ranges and Karoonjhar Mountains.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-14 |title=Common leopard in Pakistan |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/15-Apr-2021/common-leopard-in-pakistan |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}} They are uncommon in Sindh, and share prey populations with cheetahs. In the hills approaching the Indus, both species prey on the gazelle or ravine deer. Of the two, leopards are larger threats to farmers, as they often hide during the day in high jowaree fields, while cheetahs seldom emerge from the hills. Leopards are known to prey on domestic animals such as sheep, goats, and dogs. The common leopard is listed as protected and illegal to hunt in provincial laws of Sindh which can result in punishment of five years in prison and Rs 1.2 million fine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1808340|title=Body of leopard brought to Karachi to determine its origin|first=Faiza|last=Ilyas|date=January 25, 2024|website=DAWN.COM}} Leopards have been hunted to close to extinction either as trophies or as pests by hunters.{{Cite web |date= |title=Leopards in Pakistan: (Distribution, Population Threats, and Conservation) - |url=https://provets.net/leopards-in-pakistan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530114712/https://provets.net/leopards-in-pakistan/ |archive-date=2023-05-30 |access-date= |website=provets.net}}

File:Fishing cat (4127540332) (2).jpg is a species of medium-sized wild cat of South and South East Asia.]]

The fishing cat (Sindhi: پيرنگ) is widely but irregularly found across South and Southeast Asia.{{cite iucn |title=Prionailurus viverrinus |name-list-style=amp |author=Mukherjee, S. |author2=Appel, A. |author3=Duckworth, J.W. |author4=Sanderson, J. |author5=Dahal, S. |author6=Willcox, D.H.A. |author7=Herranz Muñoz, V. |author8=Malla, G. |author9=Ratnayaka, A. |author10=Kantimahanti, M. |author11=Thudugala, A. |author12=Thaung, R. |author13=Rahman, H. |date=2016 |page=e.T18150A221434864 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T18150A221434864.en |errata=2022 |access-date=25 September 2024 }} It mainly thrives in lush wetlands near slow-moving waters like swamps and marshes. These include low-salinity zones like oxbow lakes, and high-salinity areas like tidal creeks and mangroves. It hides along these waters within thick vegetation such as forests, scrublands, reed beds, and grasslands. Most sightings are from lowland regions. In 2012, it was spotted near the Chotiari Dam in Sindh.{{cite journal |last1=Islam |first1=S. |last2=Nawaz |first2=R. |last3=Moazzam |first3=M. |name-list-style=amp |year=2015 |title=A survey of Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata sindica) and Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in Chotiari Reservoir, Sanghar, Pakistan using camera traps |journal=International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=579–584 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286440744 |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316212528/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286440744_A_Survey_of_Smooth-Coated_Otter_Lutrogale_Perspicillata_Sindica_and_Fishing_Cat_Prionailurus_Viverrinus_in_Chotiari_Reservoir_Sanghar_Pakistan_Using_Camera_Traps |url-status=live }}

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The Asiatic wildcat (Sindhi: ٿري ٻلي/جھنگ جي ٻلي)is a subspecies of the African wildcat. It inhabits arid and semi-arid regions, including deserts and scrublands, across Pakistan, India, Iran, and Central Asia. In Sindh, it likely exists in areas with suitable habitats, such as scrub deserts and thorny vegetation near water bodies. These cats are adapted to drier environments, relying on prey like rodents, birds, and reptiles for both sustenance and hydration. In Sindh, wildcats exhibit pale sandy-yellow coats adorned with small spots, which often align in vertical patterns along their trunks and flanks.{{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=T. J. |year=1977 |title=The Mammals of Pakistan |location=London |publisher=Ernest Benn |isbn=9780510399009 |chapter=Felis lybica |page=138−140}}{{cite book |last1=Sunquist |first1=M. |last2=Sunquist |first2=F. |year=2002 |title=Wild Cats of the World |location=Chicago |publisher=The University of Chicago Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/wildcatsofworld00sunq/page/92 92–98] |chapter=African-Asian wildcat Felis silvestris lybica and Felis silvestris ornata |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hFbJWMh9-OAC&pg=PA92 |isbn=978-0-226-77999-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/wildcatsofworld00sunq/page/92 }} Common nearly throughout the Province, in gardens, grass thickets, &c., and occasionally on the river banks^ It does much mischief in poultry yards, and has been known to carry away rabbits insecurely penned. Commonly its chief food consists of field rats, and such game as it can secure among birds.

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The jungle cat (Felis chaus) (Sindhi:بن جي ٻلي), is a medium-sized cat native native to South and Southeast Asia. It inhabits foremost wetlands like swamps, littoral and riparian areas with dense vegetation. In the 1930s, Pocock newly described six larger skins from Sind as F. c. prateri.{{cite book |title=The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Mammalia. |volume=1 |author=Pocock, R. I. |year=1939 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |location=London |pages= 290–305 |url=https://archive.org/stream/PocockMammalia1/pocock1#page/n369/mode/2up}}

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James A. Murray stated in 1884 that lynxes (Sindhi:جهنگلي ٻلو) were also found in Sindh, likely related to the Eurasian species of lynx. Temminck noted that this species hunts in packs, similar to wild dogs, chasing down their prey. Lynxes are often domesticated and trained to hunt peacocks, cranes, and smaller quadrupeds. Though there haven't been any encounters in recent times.

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Cheetahs are also known as Hunting Leopards. The Sindhi word for cheetah (Sindhi: چِيتو) is a cognate to the word chitre (Sindhi:چٽ ), meaning spots. This in turn comes from chitra-ya (Sanskrit: चित्रय) meaning 'variegated', 'adorned' or 'painted'. The species is uncommon in Sindh, but is encountered along the Indus' banks drinking water and in the highlands, where it shares an environment with the leopard.

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Category:Animals in Pakistan

Category:Felids by region