Mysterious carnivore discovered in Borneo’s forests

This is a phantom drawing of a possible new species of mammal known as the Red Borneo Carnivore. The catlike creature has been photographed by camera traps on the Indonesian side of Borneo, according to the WWF. Larger than a domestic cat, this red animal has a very long tail, almost as long as its body, that is rather bushy The World Wildlife Fund has released two photographs (one of them above) taken using a camera trap, of a mysterious new creature moving through the dense tropical forest of the Kayan Mentarang National Park in Kalimantan. The red-coated mammal, slightly larger than a domestic cat, may be the first new species of carnivore discovered on Borneo in more than a century.

GLAND (Switzerland): Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) researchers may have discovered a new, mysterious carnivore species in the dense central forests of Borneo.

The animal, a mammal slightly larger than a domestic cat with dark red fur and a long, bushy tail, was photographed twice by a camera trap at night. This could be the first time in more than a century that a new carnivore has been discovered on the island.

However, WWF researchers have not yet established whether this is an entirely new species or if it is a new species of marten or civet cat, which looks like a cross between a cat and a fox. They are hoping to be able to confirm more about the discovery by setting cage traps and catching a live specimen.

"We showed the photos of the animal to locals who know the wildlife of the area, but nobody had ever seen this creature before," said Stephan Wulffraat, a biologist who is coordinating WWF’s research on this species. "We also consulted several Bornean wildlife experts; some thought it looked like a lemur, but most were convinced it was a new species of carnivore."

WWF stresses that the strange animal, which has very small ears and large hind legs, might remain a mystery forever if its habitat is not adequately protected. Kayan Mentarang National Park in Kalimantan, Indonesia, where the carnivore was photographed, is located in the “Heart of Borneo”, a mountainous region covered with vast tracts of rainforest.

But plans announced by the Indonesian government in July to create the world’s largest palm oil plantation in this area would have a devastating impact on the forests, wildlife and indigenous people. The proposed scheme, funded by the China Development Bank, is expected to cover 1.8 million hectares, equivalent to about half the area of the Netherlands.

WWF stresses that infertile soil and steep areas, such as those in the Heart of Borneo, prevent the development of oil palm plantations. According to experts, it is not recommended to plant oil palm in areas 200 metres above sea level because of low productivity. Most of the Heart of Borneo is between 1000 and 2000 metres high.

WWF’s Heart of Borneo initiative aims to assist the island’s three nations (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia) in conserving the more than 22 million hectares of rainforest in the area.

It is extremely rare nowadays to discover a new mammal species of this size, particularly a carnivore, WWF says. The last previously unknown species of carnivore identified on the island was the Borneo ferret-badger in 1895.

"This discovery highlights the urgent need to conserve the unique forests in the Heart of Borneo, as this creature—whatever it is—hasn’t been seen since the pictures were taken and is therefore likely to occur in very low numbers," said Stuart Chapman, WWF’s International Coordinator of the Heart of Borneo Programme.

"What other secrets do these remote forests hold?"

Content and Photos Courtesy of New Sabah Times