First photographic record of the Rusty-spotted Cat (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1831) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India

Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is the smallest felid in the world. It is rare, elusive, and poorly studied. Its distribution across the country is patchy, and it faces threats from increasing anthropogenic pressure. We recorded the first photographic evidence of this species in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, during a camera trap study conducted for large carnivores and their prey. Its elusive nature, low densities and anthropogenic threats highlight the need for targeted studies and long-term monitoring to support effective conservation planning in both protected and non-protected areas.