گربهٔ جنگلی (نام علمی: Felis chaus) (در عربی/فارسی ثُفا[۲]، در فارسی، بخصوص در گیلان، مازندران و طارم، گربه باطلاقی[۳]) گربه‌ای با جثهٔ متوسط بومی آسیا از جنوب‌شرقی چین در شرق و جنوب‌شرق قاره و آسیای مرکزی تا درهٔ نیل در غرب است. به دلیل فراوانی جمعیت گربهٔ جنگلی به ویژه در هند، سازمان IUCN وضعیت انقراض این گونه را در حالت کمترین نگرانی طبقه‌بندی کرده‌است؛ این گربه همچنین در افغانستان زیر پشتیبانی حفاظتی است و شکار آن غیرقانونی است.[۱]
Distribution and habitat[edit source]
The jungle cat is found in the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Indian subcontinent, central and Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and in southern China.[1][37][34] A habitat generalist, the jungle cat inhabits places with adequate water and dense vegetation, such as swamps, wetlands, littoral and riparian areas, grasslands and shrub. It is common in agricultural lands, such as fields of bean and sugarcane, across its range, and has often been sighted near human settlements. As reeds and tall grasses are typical of its habitat, it is known as "reed cat" or "swamp cat".[38][36] It can thrive even in areas of sparse vegetation, but does not adapt well to cold climates and is rare in areas where snowfall is common.[29] Historical records indicate that it occurs up to elevations of 2,310 m (7,580 ft) in the Himalayas.[22] It shuns rainforests and woodlands.[29][30][36]
In Turkey, it has been recorded in wetlands near Manavgat, in the Akyatan Lagoon on the southern coast and near Lake Eğirdir.[39][40] In the Palestinian territories, it was recorded in the Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho and Jerusalem Governorates in the West Bank during surveys carried out between 2012 and 2016.[41]
In Iran, it inhabits a variety of habitat types from plains and agriculture lands to mountains ranging from altitudes of 45 to 4,178 m (148 to 13,707 ft) in at least 23 of 31 provinces of Iran.[42] In Pakistan, it was photographed in Haripur, Dera Ismail Khan, Sialkot Districts and Langh Lake Wildlife Sanctuary.[43]
In India, it is the most common small wild cat.[33] In Nepal, it was recorded in alpine habitat at elevations of 3,000–3,300 m (9,800–10,800 ft) in Annapurna Conservation Area between 2014 and 2016.[44]
In Malaysia, it was recorded in a highly fragmented forest in the Selangor state in 2010.[45]
A few jungle cat mummies were found among the cats in ancient Egypt.[46][47][48]
The jungle cat is listed under CITES Appendix II. Hunting is prohibited in Bangladesh, China, India, Israel, Myanmar, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand and Turkey. But it does not receive legal protection outside protected areas in Bhutan, Georgia, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.[38]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_cat
