New Delhi, May 29 -- The Rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), among the world's smallest cats, has been documented for the first time in the National Chambal Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh by researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), with the research paper stating the finding also marks the species' first confirmed record from southern Uttar Pradesh.

Published on May 26 in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, the study documented two roadkill incidents involving rusty-spotted cats along the Bharthana-Sindaus road in Etawah district in 2025. Researchers said the new finding helps establish a new location for the species, thus allowing for localised conservation measures. It is a 'near threatened' species as per the IUCN Red...