Fishing Cat

Fishing Cat Latest News

Recently, the first scientific assessment of the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) has established Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve as a stronghold of the small feline species.

About Fishing Cat

• It is a stocky and powerfully built medium-sized wild cat species.
• Habitat
• It is found in a variety of wetland habitats, mangrove forests, swamps, marshes.
• The species is adapted to both fresh and saltwater habitats, and is able to tolerate a wide range of weather conditions, from tropical rain forests to temperate regions.
• Distribution
• It is native to South and Southeast Asia.
• It inhabits the peninsular region of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Java, and Pakistan.
• In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys, and in the Western Ghats.

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Features of Fishing Cat 

• Fishing cats are powerfully built with short limbs and a stocky body. 
• They have a long head and a short tail that is roughly one-third the length of their body. 
• Their fur is coarse and brownish gray in color with distinctive dark markings.
• The fishing cat is an adept swimmer and enters water frequently to prey on fish, as its name suggests. It is known to even dive to catch fish.
• They show strong sexual dimorphism. Males are considerably larger. 
• They are nocturnal. 

Conservation Status of Fishing Cat 

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Wildlife Protection Act of 1972: Schedule I

Source: TH