The video of a rare animal hat looks like a cross between a big cat and a wolf with peaked ears spotted in Ladkah has been posted on social media by Indian Forest Service officer and wildlife enthusiast Parveen Kaswan.
A beautiful and rare animal found in India. In Ladakh region. Not many have heard about it. Guess what. Via @fatima_sherine. pic.twitter.com/dCqnawVsrs
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) February 28, 2023
”A beautiful and rare animal found in India. In Ladakh region. Not many have heard about it. Guess what,” Mr Kaswan said in his tweet.
The clip shows a group of local dogs barking at the strange creature as it loiters around a town in Ladakh. However, the animal is unfazed and finally sits on a wall to rest.
The video has been credited to Sherine Fatima, whose Twitter bio says she is the first female singer of the Balti community in Ladakh.
According to a Twitter user the animal is a Himalayan Lynx, which is on the verge of extinction.
”Lynx… it’s beautiful,” said one user. ”Didn’t know that Lynx is also found in India.
According to National Geographic, lynxes are medium-size, solitary wildcats that roam the forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. The name comes from a Greek word that means ”to shine” because of their reflective eyes. Their defining features are the prominent tufts of hair above their ears, and their short, stubby tails, according to National Geographic.
There are four species of lynx – Eurasian, Iberian, Canda lynx and lynx rufus also known as Bobcats are found in North America.
Lynx are usually a light brown, red, rusty, or gray color with dark spots for camouflage. Their fur grows thicker in winter to keep them warm in cold climates.