Fishing Cats In Nepal

Kiran Raj Thapa / Rajesh Dhungana 

Wildlife Photographer Kiran Raj Thapa, I and two other friends entered Sauraha, an area within the CNP, to take a picture of a tiger. We entered the Park in the  morning on a safari jeep with experienced guides, Yam Mahato and Binod Chaudhary. Since the purpose was to take a picture of the tiger, Thapa gleaned information with the guide about the places where the tiger can be seen because the guides know a lot about this area and animals. 

Big Surprise

We passed through a place called Sukebhar of Sauraha forest. At some distance, suddenly a  big cat came out of the bush and immediately looked around and entered the bush again. For the time being, we waited at the same place believing the animal must be a leopard. After a while, it came out of the bush again. We succeeded in taking pictures. Contrary to our belief, the guide duo, Yam Mahato and Binod Chaudhary, told us that the animal was not a leopard but a fishing cat. It was a big surprise for us. 

This is a very rare animal. It was first seen in  2012 and this is the second time the animal was spotted in the forest. The guide said, "You are lucky to be able to take a picture of this rare animal." 

I am very happy that we were the lucky ones who got a chance to see and take of this rare species of forest cat. This leopard-like beast looked at us and went back to the bush. The next day, we went to the same place to take a picture of this animal but we could not see it even after waiting for a long time.

According to Deepak Rajbanshi, a senior jungle safari guide of Bardiya National Park, the animal was seen in his park many years ago.

There are about 150 to 200 fishing cats in Nepal. The animal has been listed as an endangered mammal by IUCN. Chitwan National Park is a major habitat for fishing cats in Nepal. From the Narayani River in the west of Chitwan to Amrute (village Name) in the northeast and Thori (Village) in the southeast, thin distribution of this animal has been observed.

Fishing cat is a medium sized cat found in South and Southeast Asia. The IUCN's Red List of Endangered Species classifies the species as endangered by habitat loss and harassment. Fish are the staple food of these animals but they also used to hunt and eat mollusks, orthopedics, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Researchers have recorded fishing cats in five protected areas in the Nepal Terai: Shuklaphanta National Park, Bardia National Park, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary, Ramsar Site in southwestern Nepal, Jagdishpur wetland area of Kapilvastu district and Rupenbdehi Distric and researchers outside the World Wildlife Sanctuary.  

Sagar Dahal, a wildlife and conservationist and co-founder of the Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation, has been working on the conservation of fishing cats since 2011. 

Dahal is currently conducting his PhD on Fishing Cats at Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA. Although the number was estimated to be 150 to 200 when studied in some areas in 2011, it is estimated to be 500 when studied in other parts of Nepal.

This animal is endangered by the destruction of wetland and predators. The number of Fishing Cat (Prionailurus) is declining at an alarming rate in all countries. Of the 12 species of wild cats found in Nepal, only Royal Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Links and 

Leopard Cats are listed as protected species under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973.

Native To Asia

It is the big cat of the Prionailurus genus, which are spotted and native to Asia. Forests are their preferred habitat. Though many call them fishing cats,  they feed on small mammals, reptiles and birds, and occasionally aquatic wildlife. 

It is about twice the size of a domestic cat and has stocky muscle with medium to short legs. Its head to body length is 22 to 31 inches and its tail is 7.9 to 11.9 inches long and weighs 8.5 to 16 kg. Its claws are less fully reticulated than those of a leopard cat, and its claws are incompletely manipulated so that they are slightly removed when protruding. Reticulated legs are often a feature of fishing cats. It is especially seen in forests, bush and near ponds.

Meanwhile, the Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal which was established in 1973 and was inscribed on the World Heritage Site in 1984. Located at a distance of 150 km from Kathmandu, the park covers an area of 367.81 square meters. It is located at 2,674 feet above sea level. 

It has a particularly rich flora and fauna. One of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the park, which is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger. Chitwan National Park has a long history of protection dating back to the early 1800s. (All hotos by Kiran Raj Thapa)

(Thapa and Dhungana are professional  wildlife photographers)