For three decades, Dr. Michelle Sauther, a primatologist at CU Boulder, has been captivated by a peculiar sight during her research trips in Madagascar: large, tabby-colored wild cats roaming the forests. These weren’t your average house cats; they were bigger, more mysterious, and seemingly ubiquitous across the island.
“From my first days working in Madagascar, I was struck by how uniform these cats appeared,” Sauther recounts. “They were substantial in size, and their coloration was consistently the same tabby pattern.” Adding to the enigma, Madagascar, an island celebrated for its unique biodiversity, has no indigenous feline species. The origin of these forest cats remained a complete puzzle.
In a groundbreaking study published in Conservation Genetics, Sauther and her team have finally shed light on the ancestry of these enigmatic animals. By analyzing the DNA of numerous wild cats, they’ve uncovered compelling evidence that these felines are not recent arrivals. Instead, it appears they journeyed to Madagascar as stowaways on trade vessels from the Arabian Sea region, possibly centuries ago, or even over a millennium.
These findings are crucial for understanding the potential ecological impact of these non-native predators on Madagascar’s fragile ecosystems. Of particular concern is the fossa, a native carnivore related to the mongoose family, which could face increased competition from these introduced felines. The presence of these forest cats also underscores a broader global trend – the “cat diaspora,” as Sauther terms it.
“Essentially, cats have become fellow travelers with humans across the globe,” Sauther explains. “This shared journey of humans and their feline companions extends far back into history.”
The Global Trail of Cats
This global expansion of cats, however, isn’t without its downsides. Over the past century, feral cat populations have devastated island ecosystems worldwide, driving numerous native species of birds, mammals, and reptiles to extinction in places like Hawaii, the West Indies, and New Zealand.
The situation in Madagascar presents a more complex picture. The ecological role of these forest cats remains largely unknown. While many Malagasy people are familiar with these animals – often seen raiding chicken coops in villages and known by local names like “ampaha,” “fitoaty,” and “kary” – their impact on native wildlife is uncertain. Locals distinguish them from domestic pet cats, recognizing them as a distinct wild presence.
Sauther and other researchers have observed forest cats preying on lemurs, Madagascar’s iconic primates, raising concerns about their potential threat to these already vulnerable populations. Lemurs, often considered the “underdogs” of the primate world, are facing severe habitat loss and other pressures in Madagascar.
“The fundamental question is: What is the ecological role of these cats?” Sauther emphasizes. “Are they a significant threat to Madagascar’s unique fauna, or have they become integrated into the local ecosystem?”
To address this, Sauther’s team conducted a genetic analysis of 30 forest cats from both northern and southern Madagascar. The results were unexpected, revealing a distant origin for these island inhabitants.
“It seems highly likely that these cats arrived in Madagascar as passengers on maritime vessels traversing the ancient Arabian trade routes,” Sauther suggests.
Stowaways from Afar
The DNA analysis identified the forest cats as Felis catus, the common domestic cat species found globally. However, their genetic signature pointed to origins in the Arabian Sea region, encompassing areas like modern-day Dubai, Oman, and Kuwait. Sauther proposes that these cats likely traveled on merchant ships that plied trade routes established over a thousand years ago.
“These ships would navigate down the East African coast, stopping at islands like Lamu and Pate. From there, Madagascar is just a relatively short journey,” Sauther explains.
While the exact arrival time of these cats in Madagascar remains undetermined, Sauther believes their presence on the island may be long-standing, potentially making them a somewhat established part of the forest environment.
“This doesn’t negate the possibility of them posing a threat, but it underscores the need to thoroughly understand their biology and history to inform effective conservation strategies,” Sauther concludes.
For Sauther, this study marks the resolution of a long-standing mystery that has intrigued researchers in Madagascar for decades. “This research has answered a question that has puzzled me and many others working in Madagascar,” Sauther states. “We now know that these mysterious forest cats are, in fact, domestic cats with a surprisingly rich and fascinating history.”
This study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from Iowa State University, Duke University, University of Porto, University of Missouri, University of Bologna, Lajuma Research Centre, Denver Zoo, and the University of Toliara.
