Dwindling population puts fishing cat in crisis

By Baburam Karki,Barahakshetra,March:1: The fishing cat, popularly known as Malaha Biralo, is found in only a few countries worldwide and is becoming increasingly rare in various locations in the country. 

Listed as endangered globally, the fishing cat is found in border areas, rivers and streams across the country. However, its population is decreasing due to a lack of conservation efforts. This rare aquatic cat is mainly found in specific riverine areas, including the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, the Sunsari River area in Ramdhuni, Shuklaphanta National Park, Bardiya National Park, Chitwan National Park, Parsa National Park, Jagadishpur Reservoir and parts of Bara district.

According to Sagar Dahal, a researcher from the Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation, the fishing cat’s population is gradually decreasing.  He warned that its decline could negatively impact biodiversity. It is estimated that Nepal has around 150 to 200 adult fishing cats.

Although the fishing cat is among the 12 species of wild cats found in Nepal and is globally endangered, it is not listed as a protected species in the country.  Dahal explained that despite its endangered status, fishing cats have not been included in the country's list of protected animals, unlike other species such as the tiger, snow leopard, lynx, clouded leopard and marbled cat.

Rama Mishra, who has been working on the conservation of the fishing cat for over a decade, said that although the species is found in border areas, forested regions, riverine grasslands, ponds and lakeshores within the country, no official population census of this animal has been conducted so far.

Mishra, who is pursuing a PhD on cat species, stressed its ecological importance. She warned that if challenges to its survival are not addressed, the endangered cat could face extinction. “By focusing only on larger species, smaller ones like the fishing cat are being neglected,” she said. The fishing cat is also found in fish ponds, rice fields and sugarcane farms in the Tarai region.

 Sagar Dahal, who is also pursuing a PhD on the species at the University of Florida, USA, explained that the cat’s bright eyes allow it to hunt fish in rivers, ponds and wetlands even in the dark. In addition to fish, its primary food source, the fishing cat also preys on frogs, rodents, birds and insects. However, its habitat is increasingly threatened by the depletion of natural wetlands.

Experts stressed the urgent need to protect this small and endangered cat species. According to Prem Narayan Adhikari, who works on the fishing cat conservation near the northern boundary of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, coordinated efforts are needed from all stakeholders to protect the species.

This cat species has a stocky body, short legs and a rounded head with a thick and bushy tail. It has a greyish-brown coat with small black spots and is an excellent swimmer. Previously found across Southeast and South Asia, the fishing cat is now limited to countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. 

It has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years and reaches reproductive maturity at around 18 months. Although nocturnal and solitary, it is sometimes seen in groups during mating season or while caring for its young.

Rama Mishra said that both human activities and natural factors threaten the fishing cat. It is often killed for preying on domestic ducks and chickens. Other threats include fishing practices using poison, attacks by guard dogs, road accidents and hunting for meat and entertainment.

The species also faces challenges from river pollution, overfishing and the negative impacts of climate change, such as floods, droughts and wildfires. Globally, the fishing cat is listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List and is categorised as “Endangered” in Nepal. Although it is not on the list of protected animals in Nepal, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits its hunting.