The Fishing Cat: A highly elusive wild cat species

The fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus, is a highly elusive wild cat species found primarily in habitats associated with wetlands such as swamps and marshy area. They are the middle-sized cat having short furs which are coarse and grey or olive brown in color. The species predominantly occurs in South and South-east Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Cambodia and Thailand.

The prey of fishing cat is quite different than other small cat as it mainly feeds upon fish and other aquatic species. Occasionally, it preys on domestic goat, calves, dogs and poultry. They carry a pronounced hunting skill and jump into water to catch fish and other aquatic species like ducks or coots.

In Nepal, the species are occurred in terai region along the border to India and have been recorded in five protected areas of Nepal that is Chitwan, Parsa, Shuklaphanta and Bardiya National Park & Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (Jnawali et al. 2011; Mishra et al. 2018). Besides the above-mentioned areas, they have been recorded outside the protected areas in Gagdishpur Reservoir (Dahal 2016). According to the radio-telemetry study of four fishing cats carried out in Chitwan National Park, Nepal in 2002 finds around 4-6km2 of home range for three females fishing cats whereas 16-22km2 for single male (Sunquist & Sunquist 2002).

One of the prominent threats to the survival of fishing cats is habitat loss and fragmentation as these days the wetlands, marshes and grasslands are distinctly changing into human settlements. Human-fishing cat conflicts are also a prime threat. Retaliatory killing by poising and trapping are thriving in most of the local communities that takes the species towards more critical. Illegal poaching and trade of fishing cat’s fur and meats are also one of the causes for its population decline.

Fishing cat is listed under Vulnerable category in IUCN Red list of Threatened Species and under Appendix II in CITIES.  A holistic approach and conservation interventions should be put forward for their long-term survival. Community-based monitoring and public awareness are also the cardinal methods for ensuring their research and conservation. Last but not the least, national and international conservation legislation regarding fishing cats should be bolster.

References:

The Fishing Cat. Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance. Available at: https://fishingcat.org/the-fishing-cat/

Mishra, R., K. Basnet, R. Amin & B.R. Lamichhane (2018). Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus Bennett, 1833 (Carnivora: Felidae) distribution and habitat characteristics in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(11).

Jnawali, S.R., H.S. Baral, S. Lee, N. Subedi, K.P. Acharya, G.P. Upadhyay,M. Pandey, R. Shrestha, D. Joshi, B.R. Lamichhane, J. Griffith, A. Khatiwada & R. Amin (2011). The Status of Nepal’s Mammals: The National Red List Series. Department of National parks and Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu, 76–77pp

Dahal S. 2016. Fishing Cats outside protected areas in Nepal Terai. In Proceedings of the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium. Appel A. & Duckworth J. W. (Eds). 25–29 November 2015, Nepal. Fishing Cat Working Group, Bad Marienberg, Germany and Saltford, Bristol, United Kingdom, pp. 27-28.

Fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus. Cat Specialist Group. Available at: http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=121

Sunquist, M. & F. Sunquist (2002). Fishing Cat, pp. 241–245. In: Wild Cats of the World. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 241–245.

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