The Pogeyan is a strange predator from India. The name is delivered from a local language (meaning "the cat that comes and goes like the mist").
It is also known as Neelagiri Cheruvan, Naai Sirutha etc.
Though initially considered as a Feline, Research by Scientist and Conservation Biologist Dijo Thomas, the only person known to have done Research on Pogeyan, showed that it is not a Feline, but an animal belonging to Neelagiri Kaduva Family, another Species Discovered by him.
Sightings[]
There have been a lot of reported sightings by local Tribals in Munnar of Kerala, India.
There are even more reported sightings by the People of high altitude regions of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, a neighbouring state, including Tribals.
During broad daylight, Kadur, a photographer, reportedly saw the feline in the high altitude grasslands around Anamudi, the highest point in the Western Ghats.
Description[]
Kadur described it as being big, with a long tail and rounded ears. Its uniform colour was darkish grey. Further research by Dijo Thomas , including details collected from Munnar, Wayanad, Ooty, Kotagiri, Kodaikanal etc. gives a clearer picture. He says that it is around a foot longer than ordinary dogs, and its face is longer and bigger than ordinary dogs. It has a mix of grey and brown colours and lives in high altitude regions.
He says that the face has a dog like appearance, longer; but the body is like that of a feline, so it appears to viewers as a small leopard from a distance.
Explanations[]
Of the known cats, the Pogeyan is most likely to be an Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca). This is as it was described as being similar to the leopard in size and shape, the leopard is known to exist in the Western Ghats, and the furs of some leopards may differ from their main appearance of being yellow with rosettes. For example, melanistic panthers have fur that is dark, and the spots would be difficult to view, if there are any.
Research on Pogeyan[]
The only person known to have done Research on Pogeyan, Scientist and Conservation Biologist Dijo Thomas, says that this highly elusive species preys on dogs. He has published a lot of evidences like Pug Marks, Eyewitness accounts etc. to substantiate his findings.
His findings are that the main population of it occurs in the high altitude regions of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, where he did Research for Two Years, it is known as Naai Siruthai, meaning "Dog Leopard"
As Pogeyan is only a local name in Munnar of Kerala, "the name ‘Neelagiri Cheruvan’ is given as a unified common name for research and conservation purpose”, he explained.
Though initially considered as a Feline, Research by him showed that it is not a Feline, but an animal belonging to Neelagiri Kaduva Family.
A News Report in Indian Express quoting Dijo Thomas, who had presented papers in Indian Science Congress earlier, said it is very difficult to take a photo of Neelagiri Cheruvan because of its fewer number, nocturnal activity and migration up to 30 - 50 kilometres.
Explaining how the animal hunts prey, the researcher said, “As it is not much bigger than a dog, it is difficult for it to hunt a dog. So, it would bark like a dog. Mistaking it to be a dog, a dog would rush to chase it away from its territory. That’s when the Cheruvan attack it. It would carry its prey on its shoulder to a secluded place, and then only will eat it. It is a lone hunter."