Pallas’s cat, also called the manul, is a small wild feline that roams the steppes of Mongolia, Siberia, and Tibet. Its presence on the slopes of Everest was first documented in the Sagarmatha region of Nepal, revealing unexpected links between the high mountains and this elusive species.
A wildlife survey reported by Cat News notes that researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society collected fecal samples from two sampling points on the southern face of Mount Everest. The altitudes of these sites were around 5,100 meters and 5,200 meters, respectively, illustrating the cat’s ability to endure extreme high-altitude environments.
The team described the discovery as extraordinary. The identification of Pallas’s cat on the Everest massif broadens the known biodiversity of this remote ecosystem and expands the species’ known range toward eastern Nepal, offering new insights into how wildlife adapts to lofty, rugged landscapes.
DNA analysis of the fecal material collected at the two high-altitude sites confirmed that at least two Pallas’s cats inhabit Mount Everest and interact with red foxes in the same region. The researchers also found traces of cranes and weasels in the remains, highlighting a diverse prey base that supports this solitary feline at the roof of the world.
Anton Seimon emphasized that Pallas’s cat is protected under international conventions such as CITES, reflecting concerted efforts to safeguard this and other vulnerable species. The researchers hope that recognizing this extraordinary finding will raise awareness about the broader biodiversity within Sagarmatha National Park and the surrounding high-altitude systems.
With the number of visitors to Sagarmatha National Park and Everest rising significantly in recent decades—from a few thousand in the early 1970s to tens of thousands in recent years—the late discovery of this species in the park underscores how much remains to be learned about these iconic mountains.
Scientists describe conservation genetics and environmental sampling as powerful tools for uncovering and studying rare species like Pallas’s cat. The use of camera traps and noninvasive fecal collection helps scientists better define the population, range, density, and diet of the manul within the park boundaries.
A cat who loves heights and cold
The Pallas’s cat or manul is a carnivorous mammal of the feline family. It resides in the high grasslands and rocky plains of Mongolia, Siberia, and Tibet at elevations up to around 5,000 meters. Its thick fur and stout body provide essential insulation against biting winds and freezing temperatures found in these elevations.
The animal was named after the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1776, first classified as Felis manul. It has since been placed in a broader genus where its closest relatives are the other wildcats but remains uniquely colored with patterns that help it blend into its stony surroundings.
This short-legged cat has a compact, sturdy body and a long, bushy tail ringed in black. Its fur color varies from ash gray to reddish tones, with distinctive dark markings running across its sides. This coloration is unique among its wildcat kin and helps it disappear into the rocky environment.
Manul tends to be solitary and avoids bright light, preferring twilight and dawn for hunting. Its diet centers on small birds and cranes, though it can take other small vertebrates when available. When on the move, it may resemble other small mammals at a casual glance, but its gait and tail are telltale clues. Shelters are often rock crevices, and the animal is a capable climber. A typical litter consists of four to six young, and adults weigh roughly 1.1 to 1.6 kilograms.
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Environmental teams continue to monitor highland wildlife trends in Nepal and neighboring regions, aiming to protect habitats that support intriguing species like the Pallas’s cat and their unique alpine ecosystems.