News: It was spotted at the Akola buffer zone of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
- It was spotted only four times in the past between 1999 and 2006 in the Thar desert.
About Desert Cat: 
- Scientific name- Felis silvestris.
- It is also known as the Asian steppe wildcat.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN– Least Concern.
- CITES: Appendix-II
- Indian Wildlife protection Act: Schedule-I.
Habitat: The species is highly adaptable and can be found in forests as well as arid and semi-arid regions.
- In the past it has been spotted at Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary(MP), Desert National Park(Jaiselmer) Sariska Tiger Reserve(Rajsthan), Tal Chappar Blackbuck Sanctuary(Rajsthan).
- Besides it is also found in Gujrat, Maharastra.
Physical features:
- The species has a sandy-brown fur and small, round spots covering the upper part of its body.
- The cat has a long, slender and tapering tail with a black tip and spots at its base.
Adaptation for desert climate:
- It can survive without water for longer days.
- The toes of the species have cushion like hair which help it balance the fluctuating desert temperatures.
