Research overview: leopard cats in the farmland mosaics of central Taiwan

Taiwan leopard cat population persists almost entirely outside protected areas, in a patchwork of low-elevation farmland, betel-nut and fruit orchards, secondary forest and rural settlements in Miaoli and neighbouring counties. This overview synthesises camera-trap, telemetry and roadkill research on how these small cats use agricultural mosaics, the heavy toll of vehicle collisions on rural roads, and conflict over poultry depredation. It covers conservation responses including wildlife-friendly farming incentives, roadkill hotspot mitigation, and community programs, and the species role as a flagship for lowland biodiversity. The synthesis frames the Taiwan leopard cat as a model of small-felid survival in a densely populated working landscape.