Rusty spotted cat

Editor’s note: Night safaris in the buffer zone of Kanha National Park have been discontinued as of December 2025. However, guests may still encounter nocturnal wildlife in and around the park while returning to Outpost 12 after their afternoon safari.

A Night to Remember: My Unexpected Encounter with the Rusty-Spotted Cat

Night safaris always hold a certain kind of magic, but this one in the Khatiya Buffer Zone of Kanha turned out to be unforgettable. The weather was absolutely perfect; the sky was crystal clear, and thousands of stars glittered above us like scattered diamonds. Under that enormous, glowing sky, we ventured deeper into the forest, searching for some of its shyest nocturnal residents. Our goal was to spot creatures like the pangolin, the porcupine, and the flying squirrel.

The forest was almost completely dark, with only the beam of our vehicle's headlight sweeping through the mixed forest. Every rustle made us pause. But just when I thought the night was coming to an end, nature had a bigger surprise waiting for us. As we were heading back, driving through the hilly tracks of the Khatiya buffer, I approached a sharp turn. I slowed down, turned the wheel, and suddenly spotted something tiny moving across the road. At first, it looked like a small shadow. When we moved a little closer my heart nearly stopped. Sitting right in the middle of the road was one of the world's smallest wild cats - the rusty-spotted cat.

The rusty-spotted cat's name comes from the rust-coloured spots scattered across its soft gray fur. It is so small that adults weigh less than 1.5 kilograms and it can hide even under a leaf. They are rarely seen in the wild, making them a mystery even to researchers. Most observations come from camera traps, which show that the species is primarily nocturnal. They are most active between sunset and sunrise, and typically shelter in caves or tree hollows during the day.

For a moment, I was completely shocked. This species is considered one of the rarest of the rare, and spotting one in the wild is a dream for many wildlifers. To my amazement, the cat was calm, almost curious. It walked gracefully on the road, paused, and then hopped onto a rock beside the track.

Under the starlit sky, it looked like a tiny ghost of the forest, perfectly at home in the darkness. It even gave me a few precious seconds to click photos, turning its head gently as if posing. And then, as silently as it had appeared, it slipped into the bushes and disappeared; leaving behind nothing but the thrill rushing through my heart. That moment, brief yet magical, became the best sighting of my life. Encounters like this remind us that the forest still holds secrets - small, silent, extraordinary, waiting for the lucky few who wander through the night with open eyes and open hearts.

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