Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has conducted its first scientific assessment of the Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), a species classified as globally vulnerable and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972. This study was executed in collaboration with Tiasa Adhya, a scientist involved with the Fishing Cat Project, aiming to determine the prevalence of Fishing Cats within Kaziranga and estimate their population density. Utilizing camera-trap images from past All India Tiger Estimation data, researchers identified a total of 57 unique individuals across an area exceeding 450 square kilometers, suggesting a healthy and widely distributed population throughout the Tiger Reserve.
Sonali Ghosh, the field director of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, noted that while the study indicates a positive outlook for Fishing Cats, the numbers might represent an undercount due to the camera trap grid size designed primarily for tigers. Nonetheless, it serves as a robust methodology for establishing baseline studies for lesser-known species beyond the commonly recognized Big Five. The Fishing Cat has adapted to aquatic hunting, implying importance in its wetland habitats, though it faces significant threats from habitat loss and illegal hunting, with noted declines in populations across regions like Vietnam and Java. South Asia is recognized as the global stronghold for this species, linked to lowland river basin wetlands, reinforcing Kaziranga’s status as a crucial “Ark” for the Fishing Cat within the Brahmaputra floodplains.
The optimal habitats for these cats encompass wet alluvial grasslands, shallow beels (wetland depressions), wet meadows, and woodland refuges that support survival during floods. Tiasa Adhya emphasized that the findings not only establish a baseline for future monitoring of the floodplain ecosystems but also position Fishing Cats as ecological sentinels within Kaziranga, indicating the health of these environments. The report was officially released during the celebrations of Fishing Cat Day, highlighting the need for continued research and conservation efforts for this unique species.
