Kaziranga Strengthens India’s Fishing Cat Conservation Map

Scientific Assessment in Kaziranga

Kaziranga Strengthens India’s Fishing Cat Conservation Map: A recent scientific assessment has identified Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve as a major stronghold of the Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). The study recorded 57 unique individuals across more than 450 sq. km using camera-trap data from the all-India tiger estimation exercise.

The findings were released on February 22, observed globally as Fishing Cat Day. The research was conducted by Kaziranga’s Tiger Cell in collaboration with the Fishing Cat Project.

Static GK fact: Kaziranga is located in the Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam and is globally known for the one-horned rhinoceros population.

Conservation Status in India

The fishing cat is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, indicating a high risk of extinction in the wild. In India, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection.

This small wild cat is uniquely adapted for aquatic hunting. It inhabits wetlands, floodplains, mangroves, marshes, and wet grasslands. In Assam, it is locally known as Meseka, symbolising ecological balance in regional folklore.

Static GK Tip: Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act receive protection similar to that of tigers and elephants.

Population Trends Across Landscapes

Data compiled under the Fishing Cat Project show that Kaziranga holds the highest population in the Terai floodplain landscape. Other freshwater habitats supporting the species include Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhwa National Park, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, and Valmiki Tiger Reserve.

In estuarine ecosystems, the Sunderban Tiger Reserve supports the largest known population. Additional strongholds include Chilika Lagoon, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

These regions represent critical wetland corridors sustaining freshwater biodiversity.

Ecological Importance and Threats

The fishing cat is one of the few felids specialised for aquatic ecosystems. It depends on wet alluvial grasslands, shallow beels, wet meadows, and woodland refuges for survival.

South Asia holds the species’ global core population, especially in lowland river basins. However, climate change, river modifications, habitat fragmentation, and wetland loss pose serious threats.

Reports indicate local extinctions in parts of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and Java, increasing the conservation responsibility of India. Kaziranga’s emerging role as a refuge strengthens national and global wetland conservation efforts.

Tracking wetland carnivores is increasingly vital for monitoring freshwater ecosystem health. The recent assessment confirms a healthy, reproducing population in Kaziranga, though researchers caution that the estimate may be conservative since the camera grid was primarily designed for tigers.

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Kaziranga Strengthens India’s Fishing Cat Conservation Map: