Twice in 12 hours: Rare encounter with marbled cats in Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary
Standing at the intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the marbled cat's appearance is something that only nature can craft in the hidden corners of the world
It was 31 May 2024, a rainy day. By the time my travel companion Sajid Al Rafi and I reached the Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary, the rain had diminished to a drizzle. We rested for a while and went out for a short trek inside the sanctuary.
It was almost 5pm. The stream we were traversing was dark. Local citizen scientist and guide, Md Nahidul Islam, joined the party. We were after the rarest of animals that call this extremely rugged forest of the Sitakunda Range - located in Fatikchari sub-district some 45 km north of the Chattogram port in south-eastern Bangladesh - its home.
As the darkness descended, silence engulfed us. The sound of our footsteps echoed back into our ears, along with the whispers of a gentle cool breeze. After a while, the weather started to deteriorate again. I thanked myself for not bringing anything except my mobile phone and torch.
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The rain became unbearable, and we started to head back. We were seemingly marching at double speed, the beam of torchlights our only assistant, flickering here and there on the solid greenish-black walls of both sides of the stream. It was 7:20pm.
Just before the gate of the forest department's rest house, the torch beam bounced on a Jarul tree. A pair of shiny eyes stared at us. We stopped immediately, our hearts missing a few beats.
Our eyes were glued to the canopy; a cat-like small animal was sitting in the gap between the branches that spread like an umbrella. It stared at the three of us, unblinking and unflinching. For a moment, I felt a cold shiver sweep down my spine.
To identify the animal properly, I positioned myself about eight feet away from the tree, steadied the torch, brought out my mobile and started recording. At this moment, the cat revealed itself, alert and about to disappear into the darkness. Then Sajid, who was next to me, shouted, "Marble! Marble! Marble!" Everyone was stunned to spot a marbled cat.
The cat's name itself evokes images of a beautifully decorated pattern. And indeed, its coat is a masterpiece of nature. Its fur features a mesmerising blend of swirling dark lines and intricate spots that render it almost invisible amidst the dappled sunlight of its habitat. Standing at the intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the marbled cat's appearance is something that only nature can craft in the hidden corners of the world.
A creature of the shadows, the marbled cat prefers the cover of night and the depths of twilight. Its slender body and large, expressive eyes are the tools of its trade, honed for nocturnal activities. What truly sets this small feline apart, however, is its remarkable agility in the trees. With graceful leaps and acrobatic prowess, it navigates the branches with finesse, making it a true arboreal wonder.
None of us had any previous experience of encountering a marbled cat. The creature is extremely rare in Bangladesh, with less than five recorded encounters, and was first discovered only in 2014. Its population is distributed throughout the dense forests of the Lower Himalayas, Northeast India and Southeast Asia.
Almost all records were either incidental encounters at wildlife trade or from the usage of remote monitoring technologies. Encountering one directly in the wild is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, making headlines among conservation communities and wildlife enthusiasts. And, the story did not end that evening.
The next morning, the three of us decided to try our luck again, still stoked from the encounter. I crossed that Jarul tree. The weather was pretty good, the sweet morning sun beating down on the tea gardens and the surrounding streets. Suddenly, about 140-150 feet away, we spotted a marbled cat again, slowly strolling and crossing the gate of the tea garden.
It was a grand entrance. Fortunately, the camera was in good hands, and Nahid immediately started pressing the shutter. The cat disappeared into the small bushes in a moment — it seemed like a kind of dream to us. Spotting a marbled cat twice within less than 12 hours! What more could any wildlife enthusiast ask for?
Later, the species was spotted by several photographers and at regular intervals. It has yet to be confirmed whether there was one individual or many. Expert assessment of these photographs might help confirm their identities.
It is also the first time that the species has been discovered in the Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary. From the globally known range of marbled cats, the forest lies about 500 km west, below the 25-degree North Latitude.
The sanctuary spans about 30 sq km, but is contiguous with the Ramgarh-Sitakunda forests that are about 100 sq km wide. It is assessed as a category IV protected area, dedicated to wildlife species and habitat conservation by the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN).
The forest has never been surveyed properly. My fellow photographers' and my own experience, and local knowledge tells that the forest is a wildlife treasure trove, home to threatened carnivores like Clouded Leopards, Dholes, Asiatic Black Bears, and hoofed mammals like Serows.
Last week, I was worried about a development project proposing a tourism centre at the sanctuary. The decision was reversed quickly. I breathed a sigh of relief. Hazarikhil holds countless hidden gems, and I hope it remains a sanctuary for wildlife and future discoveries.
