TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An injured leopard cat was found sheltering inside a mushroom farm enclosure in Miaoli County’s Gongguan Township on Sunday.

The young leopard cat was suffering from hypothermia due to the recent cold front and had a dislocated leg. After receiving a report from the farm owner, animal protection staff quickly retrieved the animal and transported it to a veterinary hospital, where its condition stabilized, per CNA.

Farm owner Tsao Fu-hsiung (曹富雄) said he was tidying up inside the enclosure when he heard a strange noise coming from the corner of the indoor space. Moments later, a bag of wood ear mushrooms fell to the ground. Upon investigating, he saw a small animal moving slowly.

Initially, Tsao thought it was a stray cat with an injured hind leg. However, when he approached, the animal let out a loud sound, leading him to suspect it was a critically endangered leopard cat. He immediately contacted the Miaoli County Agriculture Department’s Nature Conservation Section, which confirmed his suspicion.

Tsao noted that his farm is located in an ecologically rich area that is home to diverse wildlife, including crab-eating mongooses and Swinhoe’s pheasants. However, he never expected to encounter a leopard cat.

Miaoli County Agriculture Department Nature Conservation Section head Chang Wei (張葦) said the injured leopard cat is a juvenile male, about one year old and weighing 2 kg. It was found extremely weak, with its left hind leg dislocated and its body temperature dangerously low.

Chang said conservation staff initially sent the leopard cat to a veterinary hospital for observation and treatment. After a night of rest, it was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute for further care.