| About Fishing Cats |
 |
 |
 |
General
Fishing cats (scientific name: Prionailurus viverrinus) are secretive, medium-sized nocturnal felids cat found near marshes and swamps of South and Southeast Asia. They are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, human disturbance, and direct persecution. Few studies have documented the ecology of the fishing cat and conservation efforts have been hindered by a lack of information on distribution and conservation status of the species. Physical DescriptionFishing cats are relatively small cats with adult female weights ranging from 5-9 kg and males ranging from about 8 to 14 kg. They have grey/brown fur with unique combinations of stripes and spots. Fishing cat paws have significant webbing in between their toes--presumably an adaptation to the muddy, wet habitats they prefer. Fishing cats have a unique set of vocalizations. Click below to hear some of these:
BehaviorThe behavior of fishing cats in the wild is poorly studied but from observations of both wild and captive animals, they are known to be secretive and relatively aggressive. Fishing cats often hunt in shallow water using their front legs and long canines to lunge and capture fish and other aquatic species. Click here for a clip of fishing cats stalking and capturing fish in a shallow wetland. DistributionThe fishing cat's range spans throughout tropical Asia from India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal through Burma to Thailand and Indochina. A number of populations are also (perhaps historically) found on the islands of Sumatra and Java (Lekagul & McNeely 1977).In Thailand, available range maps show fishing cats ranging throughout the northern areas of the country down to Isthmus of Kra. A recent record from Thale Noi wetland area in Pattalung (Murray 1999) represents an extension of this range significantly further south. Although there are historical records of fishing cats occurring in southernmost Thailand and peninsular Malaysia, there are no recent records from this area.
Global Distribution Adapted from maps from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and the Southeast Asian Mammal Databank
HabitatFishing cats typically inhabit wetlands or scrubby areas near shallow sources of water.They appear to prefer coastal wetlands but this is not exclusively the case.
Fishing cat habitat in southern Thailand DietFishing cats feed on fish, crabs, rodents, birds, hard-shelled freshwater mollusks, and most other animals they can catch (Lekagul and McNeely 1977). ThreatsFrequent development, conversion, and over-fishing wetland habitats have resulted in a high degree of habitat loss and population fragmentation throughout the fishing cat's global range. They are often hunted, snared, or poisoned as retribution for real or perceived attacks on domestic fowl or impact on local fisheries. Fishing cats appear to have a high tolerance for human activity and impacts and this increases the overall risk of human-cat conflict. Conservation Status and Current Conservation EffortsFishing cats are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are included in CITES Appendix II. The frequent development, conversion, and over-fishing of their wetland habitats have resulted in a high degree of habitat loss and population fragmentation throughout their range.There is mounting anecdotal evidence that fishing cat populations may be in a precipitous state of decline through out most--if not all--of their historical range. Some Key Points Related to this project and Fishing Cat Conservation in general:
Fishing Cat Conservation priorities include:
|
