The misanthrope of the feline world is a charismatic and wayward bell (9 photos + 1 video)

This character is not a product of a neural network and not a hero cartoon. And quite a real predator that inhabits South America.





The pampas cat, also known as bell or grass (straw) cat. For the first time researchers encountered this secretive creature in Chile in 1816. If not a fairly large population of bells, they would have remained behind the scenes human understanding - too secretive and cautious.



These pussies with a prominent pip nose and sad half-closed eyes are real heroes. Despite the rather modest dimensions (30 cm at the withers with a body length of 50-70 cm and a weight of 5-7 kg) in case of threats or dangers will rush into battle, regardless of the parameters of the enemy. Which can significantly exceed the small bell. When danger cats fly up a tree with lightning and begin to aggress, fluffy and great increasing in size due to thick wool.





Actually, the name of the cat's bell was given thanks to his uncontrollable rage, which is hidden under the mask of a pious calmness. The bell is the name of the leader of the Araucan tribe - a bright figure period of the Araucan war against the Spaniards. Well, the name "herbal" the cat received thanks to a secretive lifestyle: the beast prefers hide in thickets, bushes, grass.



They feel great in the mountains: there is no one for the cat mother gets when she is quietly engaged in raising offspring in advance equipped nest. Dads do not take part in education. bell is a classic example of cats that walk by themselves. cat couples created for a short moment of love in accordance with the call of nature. After this male jumps into the fog, and the female is preparing for childbirth. By the way, pregnancy in these cats lasts relatively long, up to three months. Babies are born quite large, but they rarely appear in the litter more than three.



The cat is a born night hunter. Easily jumps on trees and climbing rocks. The basis of the diet is rodents, birds, eggs. The bell does not disdain both large insects and small reptiles.



Survives poorly in captivity - too much stress herbal the cat experiences in such conditions. Animals are nervous, sick and practically do not reproduce. Therefore, the question of complete domestication in the case not worth it with them.



The Pampas cat population began to decrease sharply after people coming to the pampas. After all, they really needed a fur bell - surprisingly thick, beautiful and non-standard. Export of skins and extermination banned in 1987 at the legislative level.



Several countries, including Chile, Argentina and Paraguay, the animals are under protection. I would like to believe that the accepted measures will work. And the bell will not disappear from the face of the earth, as already happened to hundreds of other species.



Perhaps cats eschew society, because they feel that people want to be friends with them not because of a fluffy soul, but because of a desire get FLUFFY FUR. which you can do without for a long time thanks to modern artificial materials. After all, the extinct ones have a second chance the fault of man will no longer be animals.