Not jungles but grasslands are where India’s jungle cats truly thrive

The name is misleading.

Despite being called the jungle cat, one of India's most widespread wild felines appears to prefer open landscapes over dense forests. A new study has found that grasslands, scrublands, wetlands and even agricultural areas provide some of the most suitable habitats for the species, challenging long-held assumptions about where the cat belongs.

The research, published in Scientific Reports, analysed thousands of records from across the country to create the most detailed picture yet of the jungle cat's distribution. The findings suggest India could potentially support more than 300,000 jungle cats, making it one of the species' most important strongholds globally.

For many people, the image of Indian wildlife is inseparable from forests. Tigers prowling through sal forests and leopards disappearing into dense foliage dominate popular imagination. The jungle cat reminds us to look elsewhere.

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Long-legged, sandy-coloured and perfectly adapted to blend into dry grasses, the small wild cat is more likely to be found moving through scrub, grazing lands and agricultural mosaics than deep woodland. It thrives in warm regions with moderate vegetation and appears comfortable living in landscapes shaped by people, provided they are not heavily urbanised.

The wild residents of everyday landscapes

The findings are also a reminder that some of India's most important wildlife habitats are often hiding in plain sight.

Grasslands and scrublands are frequently dismissed as empty or unproductive spaces, making them vulnerable to development and land conversion. However, these open ecosystems support a surprising diversity of wildlife, from birds and reptiles to mammals such as the jungle cat.

Living close to people has its advantages. Farms and grazing lands often attract rodents, a key prey species for jungle cats. But proximity to humans also brings challenges. Expanding roads, habitat fragmentation and encounters with free-ranging dogs are among the threats identified by researchers.

As India's cities expand and land-use patterns change, the future of many species may depend not only on protected forests but also on how well human-dominated landscapes are managed.

The study offers a timely reminder that conservation is not always about protecting remote wilderness. Sometimes it is about recognising the value of the everyday landscapes that support wildlife alongside us.