Conservation of Fishing cat

Project Animal(s) : Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Asia
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=121
Project is timebound? : No

The fishing cat is included in the CITES Appendix II. It is protected over most of its range and hunting is prohibited in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. There is no legal protection outside of protected areas in Nepal. In India, it is accorded the highest protection by being placed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. The fishing cat occurs in protected areas such as the Sundarbans (Bangladesh and India), Chitwa (Nepal), Corbett, Dudwha and Kaziranga (India). It can be found in and around various protected areas, e.g. Khao Sam Roi Yot and Thale Noi in Thailand, Botum-Sakor and Ujung Kulon in Cambodia and in Pulau Dua on Java.

One of the most important aspects in regard to the conservation of the fishing cat is the protection and sustainable use of wetland areas. There is a need for more comprehensive surveys for fishing cats to better understand its ecology, status and actual distribution and the phylogenetic relation between isolated populations. Effective measures to prevent indiscriminate trapping, snaring and poisoning are required. The inclusion of local people into the conservation of the fishing cat is very important. A conservation project of the fishing cat taking place in Thailand includes a strong public education feature as it attempts to reverse the trend of persecution of the fishing cat. An Indian conservation organisation also recently started a public survey about the fishing cat and an education program to promote conservation awareness.

Project Agency : Cat Specialist Group

Project Agency Contact : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=1

Additional Information :

http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=13