In search of the elusive and threatened fishing cat

In the wild, India has 15 species belonging to the cat household. Much consideration has been given to our giant cats, the lions and tigers. Not a lot is thought of the smaller wild cats – the caracal, the rusty noticed cat, the fishing cat, and so forth. These smaller, extra secretive cats deserve due recognition, as they navigate a world more and more stuffed with threats far bigger than themselves.

Wetlands in India are dwelling to the fishing cat, which grows to twice the scale of the home cat, weighs seven to 12 kg, and has a greyish brown fur lined with black spots. In its territory, this cat is commonly the apex predator, which means no different creature preys on it. Wetlands are vibrant ecosystems characterised by waterlogged soil like that present in river floodplains, mangroves, and swamps. 

Some uncommon diversifications allow the fishing cat to get by in moist environment. Partially webbed paws, a dense waterproof coat and the power to swim whereas absolutely submerged in water point out aquatic leanings. Protruding claws, which can’t be absolutely retracted, assist the cat with gripping slippery mud and fish. The cats’ eating regimen is primarily fish, though rodents, chickens, and different small animals are at all times welcome. 

The fishing cat spends 50% of its looking time standing, sitting or crouching close to the sting of water. Barely 5% of looking time is spent submerged in water. In shallow water, the cat retains transferring slowly, pausing to flush a fish out with its paws earlier than grabbing it with the mouth.

Populations of the fishing cat are present in scattered pockets: the terai area of the Himalayas, some marshes of Western India, the Sundarbans, alongside the East coast, and in Sri Lanka.

Wildlife surveys for protecting observe of the patchy populations of this elusive nocturnal cat utilise digicam traps set close to the water’s edge. An elaborate rely has been performed by Tiasa Adhya of the Fishing Cat Project and a community of collaborators (see fishingcat.org) within the Chilka lake, the place there may be an abundance of fish and restricted battle with people. Extrapolating their outcomes provides us an estimate of about 750 fishing cats within the 1,100 sq. km expanse of the lagoon (see: Endangered Species Research, 54, 1, 2024). 

This wholesome quantity contrasts with the cats’ quickly dwindling numbers within the Sundarbans. Fishing cats have been thought to have died out in Rajasthan till sightings within the Keoladeo National Park earlier this 12 months. 

The decline is basically on account of habitat loss. It has been estimated that 30-40% of India’s wetlands have been misplaced or severely degraded within the final 4 a long time. Protecting wetland ecosystems is due to this fact essential for the fishing cat. Human encroachment has additionally severely affected them. Many folks see them as predators of fish ponds and hen coops, and an alarming variety of revenge kills by people have been documented. Community-based conservation programmes seem to carry the important thing to lowering this animosity.

This 12 months, the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun has initiated a venture to trace fishing cats within the estuaries of the Godavari river inside the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary close to Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Using GPS collars with GIS integration, exact location knowledge of collared cats might be collected. Continuous knowledge from the collars will present insights on most popular habitats, motion, and the place they encounter human settlements. All these might be helpful for designing methods to spice up fishing cat populations.

This article was co-authored with Sushil Chandani.