2 Researchers Built a Pond for Thirsty Wildlife & Ended up Filming Goa’s First Leopard Cat Footage

A mainland leopard cat is a small, elusive wild cat scientifically named Prionailurus bengalensis. It is separate from the leopard, which is a much larger wild cat. The article describes the leopard cat as one of Asia’s most widespread small wild cats, even though it remains poorly documented in some Indian regions.

The difference became clear at the Goa pond. The same camera trap recorded leopards as well as the much smaller leopard cat. On 7 March 2024, it captured five short clips of the leopard cat stopping to drink. This made the animal identifiable without confusing it with the larger species.

The leopard cat is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and occurs across parts of India, Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, Japan and the Russian Far East. However, its wide range does not mean it is easy to observe. In Goa, the camera-trap footage provided the state’s first reported photographic record.

The researchers discovered that a mainland leopard cat was using a small artificial pond in a forest patch near Goa’s Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. This was significant because the species had never previously been photographically documented in Goa, according to their published findings.

At 12:54 am on 7 March 2024, the cat approached the pond and drank. A nearby camera trap recorded five short video clips. The footage became the state’s first reported photographic record of the species. The researchers were Akshita Pungaliya and Atul Borker, who had created the pond to help wildlife during the dry season.

Their findings were published in the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Cat News in 2025. The discovery also showed how a project focused on water availability could reveal wildlife that might otherwise pass through the forest unseen. It added an important record from a region where leopard-cat photographs have been scarce.

The researchers built the pond because a seasonal stream in the forest dried up every February. They wanted to test whether an artificial water source could help animals during the hotter, drier months. The pond held 40 litres and was placed where signs suggested mammals already travelled.

A camera trap beside the water recorded visitors continuously. On 7 March 2024, at 12:54 am, it filmed a mainland leopard cat drinking. The trap produced five short clips, turning an ordinary monitoring visit into the first reported photographic record of the species in Goa.

The key mechanism was simple: water attracted animals, while the camera recorded their visits without requiring researchers to be present. Across 390 camera-trap nights, the team documented many species. The pond therefore served both as a seasonal water source and as a practical observation point for wildlife research.

Across 390 camera-trap nights, the researchers documented repeated activity around the artificial pond. The recordings showed that the water source was used by a wide range of wildlife, from small birds and squirrels to much larger mammals.

Early footage captured birds drinking, mongooses stopping at the pond and squirrels crossing the frame. Later recordings showed Indian gaur and leopards, while giant squirrels also appeared. The camera sometimes stood so close to an animal that it could barely capture the whole body, including moments when only hooves were visible.

This variety mattered because the researchers wanted to know whether wildlife would use a man-made water source. Some animals appeared to return and become familiar with the location. The most unexpected visitor was the mainland leopard cat, filmed drinking in five clips on 7 March 2024.

Leopard cats are difficult to observe because they are shy and elusive. They can move through forest patches without being noticed, especially when people are not actively watching the area. Their wide distribution also does not guarantee frequent records in every landscape.

The Goa researchers did not find the cat through a direct search. They placed a camera trap beside a pond and allowed it to record wildlife continuously. The device captured the animal at 12:54 am, when researchers were not present, and produced five short clips of it drinking.

The lack of records is especially striking in the northern Western Ghats. The article notes that photographic sightings there have been particularly scarce, while most Indian records come from the southern Western Ghats, the Himalayas and the Northeast. The Goa footage therefore filled a regional documentation gap and confirmed the species’ presence in the state.

Repeated visits to a man-made pond can reveal how wildlife responds when natural water becomes scarce. If animals keep returning, the pond may be serving as a dependable resource rather than a one-time discovery. Their behaviour can show whether they are adapting to a changed seasonal landscape.

At the Goa site, the researchers first used tracks, small trails, fruit remains and disturbed leaf litter to choose a location animals already used. After they installed the 40-litre pond and camera trap, some animals returned across seasons. Akshita said they appeared to become familiar with the spot and recognise it.

The evidence suggests that artificial water sources can become part of animals’ movement patterns during dry months. However, the project’s stated purpose was to understand whether wildlife would use the pond, not to replace natural streams permanently. Continued monitoring could show which species return and how consistently they use the water.

Camera traps help scientists study biodiversity by recording animals automatically whenever they pass a location. This is useful for shy or nocturnal species that researchers may rarely see directly. The footage can reveal which species use a habitat, how often they visit and whether they return.

At the Goa pond, the camera operated beside the water while researchers were absent. It captured birds, squirrels, mongooses, Indian gaur, leopards, giant squirrels and a mainland leopard cat. The date and time attached to five clips showed exactly when the leopard cat drank, providing photographic evidence of its presence.

Across 390 camera-trap nights, the recordings documented activity in the forest patch. Such evidence can strengthen regional wildlife records and identify species that need further study. In this case, it established Goa’s first reported photographic record of the mainland leopard cat.