Thai wildlife rescue center sees surge in injured leopard cat cub admissions

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation rescue centre in Khon Kaen, northeastern Thailand, has admitted more than 60 leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) cubs between January and August 2026, a rise from the typical ten admissions per year recorded before 2023. Officials link the surge to worsening habitat fragmentation, frequent agricultural burning in nearby sugarcane fields, and greater public use of a government wildlife hotline.

Veterinarian and researcher Warisara Thomas explained that many of the cubs arrive with burn injuries, infections or nutritional deficiencies. Staff first stabilise the animals by treating wounds, providing antibiotics and addressing dietary needs before moving them to specialised 24‑square‑metre rehabilitation enclosures where they receive microchips for identification.

During a two‑month rehabilitation period, the kittens undergo health screenings for feline immunodeficiency virus, parvovirus and canine distemper virus to prevent disease transmission to wild populations. They are also trained to hunt live prey such as mice and chicks, building muscle and natural hunting instincts while learning to avoid human contact.

The centre employs a soft‑release strategy, allowing the cats to practice hunting in a controlled environment before being released into nearby Phu Pha Man National Park. Jim Sanderson, founder of the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation and member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, described soft releases as essential for the survival of rehabilitated small cats. However, head veterinarian Nuntita Ruksachat warned that the protected forest is nearing capacity and that the centre is evaluating additional release sites.

Mortality rates at the Khon Kaen centre have fallen to approximately 33 % in 2026, down from 60 % in earlier years, according to centre officials. The decline is attributed to improved veterinary care, the prohibition of keeping wild cats at home, and the comprehensive rehabilitation protocol now in place.