The misunderstood cat
You might think cats hate water, right? While that may be true for felines in general, there's one big exception. A species commonly known as the fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus, approximately twice the size of a house cat, is an expert swimmer and loves to hunt in the water.
However, this captivating cat is in danger. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List, the fishing cat population has globally declined by over 30 percent in the last 15 years.
The species is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, due to the numerous challenges it faces, such as degradation of its wetland habitats, conflict with humans, and inadequate conservation funding.
The fishing cat has an olive-grey coat decorated with black spots and stripes. It primarily feasts on fish, which it catches with its dextrous, retractable claws. It is strongly associated with wetland habitats, where its preys are abundant.
Globally, this species can be spotted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and India's West Bengal. In Bangladesh, it is found across the country in discontinuous populations.
Muntasir Akash, a lecturer at Dhaka University's zoology department, said, "According to our information, at least 160 cats have been killed in the country in the last 15 years."
More deaths are reported in Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Natore, Magura and Faridpur. "We are researching why they are dying at such an alarming rate," he said.
Rapid destruction of wetlands, which are purposefully being filled and polluted, is a major threat to their lives. Due to the destruction, the cats are now in conflict with humans, as they are compelled to hunt farm animals, he added.
The fight to save the species reached a major milestone in 2012, with the initiation of "Project Fishing Cat". Founded by Sayam Chowdhury, the organisation works in one of the fishing-cat hotspots in Hail haor, in the country's north-east. For the last 10 years, Project Fishing Cat has been studying the animals and mitigating conflicts with locals, saving many cats in the process.
"Here, the main challenge is to conserve its habitat outside protected areas, since fishing cats can be found widely in various habitat types, including villages. So, ensuring safety in these locations is extremely difficult," Sayam said.
"Secondly, many people think the species is a big threat and often misidentify it as a dangerous animal [like a tiger] and end up killing it."
Sometimes, people kill them for no reason whatsoever, which is quite disturbing, he added.
Because of the cat's wide and discontinuous range, a lot of its habitats fall in unprotected lands, inhabited by more people. Therefore, conflicts between animals and humans are more likely.
The species may sometimes attack locals' livestock for food, as they are an easy target. This angers locals and often drives them to kill the cats. But as Sayam iterates, people often end up killing them for other reasons too, with very little merit.
Right now, the fishing cat is fighting for its survival, adapting to new circumstances resulting from human activity.
"No proper survey has been carried out by the government on fishing cats. Hence, its importance in terms of biodiversity remains widely unknown," said Sayam.
Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Sylhet's divisional forest officer at Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division, said, "Fishing cats need to be radio-collared. If we can assess their home range, only then can we show locals that the cats prefer to stay out of the vicinity of humans."
[The author is an avid wildlife enthusiast, currently studying in Vietnam.]
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