Live Cat Appraisal: Starting with a Beast That's Got a Long Prison Record

Chapter 103 Chameleons among the Feline Family

"Asian Golden Cat?"

Upon hearing this name, Lin Sen and Gesang's eyes immediately focused on Chen Nian's face.

Lin Sen was curious, but also somewhat bewildered.

Gesang's gaze, however, was sharper, carrying a professional scrutiny.

"Can you tell me more specifically?"

Gesang asked.

He needs more specific information to assess the risk level of this potential 'neighbor'.

Chen Nian nodded.

Facing the camera, he slowly revealed some basic information about the Asian golden cat: "The Asian golden cat is a Class I protected wild animal in China! It is a medium-sized feline, much larger than a domestic cat, but smaller than a leopard."

"Adult golden cats can grow to about one meter long, not including the tail!"

"It's about half a meter tall at the shoulders."

Chen Nian used a combination of words and gestures to clearly demonstrate the size of the Asian Golden Cat to the audience.

This immediately drew gasps of surprise from the live stream viewers.
"Holy crap? It's huge!"

"I feel like I'm no different from a leopard now!"

Are you sure this is a cat and not a wild animal?

Chen Nian pointed to the footprints on the ground. "Generally speaking, a golden cat weighs about 12 to 16 kilograms, but this one..."

He crouched down, his fingertips tracing the depth of the footprints and the shape of the compressed soil, his mind racing with calculations.

"Judging from the depth of the indentation in its paw pads and its stride, this bird's weight is probably close to 18 kilograms!"

"Definitely a heavyweight in the Golden Cat family!"

The fact that wild animals can grow to near their maximum size is often a silent testament to a superior ecological environment and a complete food chain.

The fact that the golden cat can grow to nearly 40 pounds is enough to prove that the ecological ecosystem here is exceptionally good!
However, this 'significant' information also caused Lin Sen and Gesang's expressions to change slightly.

The mere existence of a wild big cat of this size is enough to awaken the instinctive vigilance deep within human genes against apex predators.

"Teacher Chen?"

Lin Sen's voice became noticeably serious, the excitement of discovering the footprints replaced by caution: "This sounds a bit too 'significant,' perhaps we should retreat first?"

He instinctively looked at Gesang, seeking support from the experienced guide.

Gesang did not immediately express his opinion.

But his tightly pursed lips and the more wary look in his eyes suggested that he was inclined to accept Lin Sen's suggestion.

As a guide, the primary responsibility is to ensure safety, not to satisfy curiosity.

Chen Nian gently shook her head, a reassuring smile on her face.

His tone carried a convincing certainty:

"Don't panic, the Asian Golden Cat's 'cat persona' is quite different from the fierce 'big cat' that everyone imagines."

He paused, then explained in a more soothing tone.

"They are natural 'hermits,' with extremely secretive and shy personalities."

"That's right, it's shyness."

"Compared to other feline relatives that may be more aggressive, golden cats have completely different habits. They not only do not attack humans unprovoked, but they will also try their best to avoid any interaction with us."

"In all existing records, there is not a single case of a golden cat attacking a human without any reason."

"And humans aren't even on their prey list."

His gaze swept over Lin Sen and Gesang, emphasizing, "Humans are not on their 'recipe' at all. On the contrary, for them, we humans are the biggest threat to their survival."

"Is that so?"

Lin Sen visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Chen Nian and Gesang were not completely off guard.

Gesang's duty is to protect any large wild animal, as it is a potential variable.

But Chen Nian was filled with even deeper questions.

"Logically speaking," Chen Nian frowned.

My gaze followed the direction the footprints extended, where lush flowers and trees grew, creating a secluded and tranquil atmosphere.

“Our team has been setting up camp and filming here, making quite a commotion. Given Jinmao’s cautious and shy nature, it should have kept a safe distance of at least several kilometers as soon as it noticed us.”

He pointed to the traces left on the damp soil around him, which seemed to linger in a slightly hesitant direction: "But looking at these traces, it didn't leave immediately after the rain stopped, but lingered around here for quite a while. This is very unusual and completely inconsistent with its habits."

"Could it be that we were delayed because we were taking shelter from the rain?"

Lin Sen guessed.

After all, the rain just now was too heavy.

Chen Nian shook her head inwardly.

The mission prompt with three bright red exclamation marks flashed through his mind.

His intuition told him that things were far more complicated than they seemed.

Moreover, combined with these fresh traces, he was almost certain that the mysterious Asian golden cat was probably still lingering deep in this sea of ​​flowers!

Thinking of this, Chen Nian immediately turned to Gesang.

The tone was sincere and firm:
"Brother Gesang, are there any observation points nearby that offer a relatively open view but are also well-hidden? I'd like to try and find this golden cat."

He met Gesang's scrutinizing gaze and quickly explained his speculation.

Gesang frowned, wanting to refuse.

This is not part of his business scope.

But then Chen Nian continued:
"It appeared in this area you've never seen before, and its behavior is so unusual, there must be a reason behind it. Maybe it's in trouble, or maybe something has changed in this area that forced it to come closer? As a Class I protected animal in China, now that we've discovered this anomaly, we have a responsibility to find out what happened to it."

Lin Sen immediately chimed in.

“Brother Gesang, our journey deep into this hidden realm is to record and protect the creatures of this land. Our mission is to spread wildlife knowledge and raise awareness of conservation among more people! If, as Old Chen predicted, this golden cat needs help, or if there are hidden dangers in the environment here, we hope to do our part. Please help us!”

"."

Looking at the genuine sincerity and enthusiasm in the eyes of the two young men, Gesang recalled that this was indeed the first time in decades that he had discovered the footprints of such a large feline in this area.

Besides his professional caution, he was also aroused by a curiosity to find the truth.

Gesang was silent for a few seconds, then slowly nodded, his voice still hoarse, but with a hint of warmth:
"Go and explain it to your team leader. If he agrees, I have no objections." "Okay!"

Chen Nian and Lin Sen immediately returned the way they came.

They quickly located the infinitesimal entity that was directing the drone to capture the magnificent sea of ​​flowers and rainbows.

Upon hearing the words "Asian Golden Cat," Director Tibetan Fox's eyes lit up instantly: "Asian Golden Cat?! Right here in this sea of ​​flowers?"

"Yes." Chen Nian expressed her thoughts quickly and clearly.

The infinitesimal quantity, with almost no hesitation, waved its hand.

"No problem! This sea of ​​flowers is worth stopping to take photos from multiple angles!"

"If we can find and document the Asian golden cat you mentioned, that would be an even greater surprise! Be careful and keep it up!"

After receiving the team leader's approval, Chen Nian immediately went to find Gesang.

Gesang didn't say anything.

He simply walked around the neighborhood and found a perfect spot for Chen Nian and the others to stay for a short period of time.

Then, he turned to Chen Nian, his eyes sharp as knives.

The tone was more serious than ever before:
"Kid, even if you say it's shy and afraid of people, there's nothing that's completely certain about the creatures in the mountains! A wild animal is a wild animal; if it's injured, protecting its cubs, or pushed to the limit, anything can happen! Under my watch, nothing can go wrong!"

He patted the beast-driving equipment hanging from his waist, which he would never use unless absolutely necessary.

"So you can find someone, but I have to stay by your side at all times. Safety is paramount, no questions asked!"

"Understood, Brother Gesang!"

Chen Nian nodded emphatically, her expression extremely solemn.

He understood the importance of safety better than anyone else, especially with the three "be careful" reminders constantly flashing in his mind.

So the first thing Chen Nian did after settling in was to call for help!
He immediately contacted Lin Qidong.

She told him about discovering the golden cat's footprints.

"Old Lin, I need support. This matter is probably not that simple."

Lin Qidong naturally trusted Chen Nian unconditionally.

Upon hearing this, he immediately asked, "What do you need me to do?"

"Drones!" Chen Nian stated her request.

"I need to cover this entire field of flowers, and then find that golden cat!"

Their team also carried drones.

However, the quantity is far from enough, so official equipment support is needed.

"Understood!"

Lin Qidong nodded emphatically.

"Wait for me, I should be able to get there tomorrow."

He planned to personally lead his team to help Chen Nian.

The Asian golden cat is a national first-class feline, so it is naturally on their protection list.

For both emotional and rational reasons, Lin Qidong would not let Chen Nian resolve this matter on her own.

This is their responsibility!
"Thank you!"

After sending the specific address to Lin Qidong, Chen Nian and her team applied for a drone.

"let me help you!"

Upon hearing about the Asian Golden Cat's whereabouts, Xia Qiyue immediately came over.

Soon, under her skillful control, a black drone, like a nimble metal hummingbird, buzzed into the clear sky after the rain and began a preliminary patrol scan of the nearby flower field area.

"You even know how to make drones?"

Chen Nian blinked.

"I know a little bit~" Xia Qiyue smiled modestly.

As the high-definition images transmitted by the drone unfolded on the small tablet screen, Chen Nian's gentle yet slightly mysterious voice softly rang out in the live stream:

Did you know that the Asian Golden Cat has another very amazing characteristic?

"Its fur color can 'change'!"

"From common golden-red and dark brown to rare gray-blue and pure black, it's like a chameleon among felines!"

"This versatile coat color allows it to blend perfectly into different backgrounds such as forests, bushes, and rocks, making it a top-notch master of stealth."

"Often, by the time its prey reacts, it may have already appeared behind it like a ghost."

“So…” Chen Nian’s gaze swept across the dazzlingly intricate sea of ​​flowers on the screen.

His tone carried a complex mix of solemnity and anticipation.

"To find a deliberately hidden golden cat in this vibrant, complex sea of ​​flowers..."

"It's like finding a needle in a haystack!"

This is also the key reason why he sought support from Lin Qidong and official drones at the first opportunity!

Individual strength seems so insignificant in this natural labyrinth!

Chen Nian took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

Then focus all your attention on the screen in front of you.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, like a precise human scanner, not missing any abnormal movement in the image, any patch with a color too different from the environment, or any flower branch that might be bent by a large animal.
the truth.

Perhaps it is hidden in some corner of this beautiful yet dangerous labyrinth made of flowers.

A pair of fluffy cat ears quietly appeared under the brim of the windbreaker's hood.

Make two small pouches on the top of the hat.

"?"

Xia Qiyue noticed this out of the corner of her eye.

His gaze swept over it, assuming it was just being blown by the wind, and he looked away.

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(End of this chapter)