On the noon of 16/11, Doctor Vu Ngoc Long, former Director of the Institute of Southern Ecology, was going to the market when he spotted a male wildcat. The animal, weighing about one kg and over 20 cm long, had yellowish-brown fur with black, leopard-like spots. It was lying by the roadside near Chuoi Pass on National Highway 20, in Da Huoai 2 commune.

Initially, Doctor Long thought the animal was dead and turned his vehicle around to collect it for burial. However, upon closer inspection, he discovered the cat was injured on two legs and around its mouth, had lost a significant amount of blood, and was struggling to breathe.

The cat was able to walk on its own after receiving first aid. Photo: Vu Ngoc Long

After Doctor Long brought it home for first aid and care, the cat gradually recovered, becoming able to eat and move independently. That same afternoon, the marbled cat was handed over by the ecologist to representatives of Cat Tien National Park for further rehabilitation before its eventual release back into the wild.

The marbled cat, scientifically known as Prionailurus bengalensis, is classified under Group IIB of endangered forest animals and is listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Its population has declined sharply due to hunting for its beautiful fur. Each adult typically weighs 3-5 kg, measures 45-63 cm in length, and preys on small animals and insects. Currently, the marbled cat is protected in the wild by WWF.

Hoai Thanh - Truong Ha