176 fishing cats spotted in Chilika in 1st population census

BHUBANESWAR: A total of 176 fishing cats were found during the species’ first population estimation, conducted by the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) in collaboration with The Fishing Cat Project (TFCP), in Chilika since last year.
Fishing cats, a globally species, live in marshlands, mangroves and flooded forests in major south and southeast Asian river basins. While the estimation’s first phase was conducted in 2021 on a 115-sqkm marshland in north and north-eastern section of Chilika and its surrounding areas, the second phase took place in Parikud along the coastal islands of Chilika. During the entire process, altogether 150 camera traps were deployed with each staying in field for 30 days. “Local fishermen and villagers were the primary participants in this exercise. Without their support, the world’s first such population estimation outside protected areas on the species would not have been possible,” said CDA chief executive officer Susanta Nanda.
“Ten graduate and post-graduate students also volunteered in the exercise. Chilika Wildlife Division staff facilitated and participated in the process too. Such a participatory effort involving multiple stakeholders sets a wonderful precedent,” said TFCP co-founder Partha Dey.
Fishing cats are found in 10 Asian countries. However, they have remained undetected in Vietnam and Java since the past decade. “Wetlands in Asia are being lost at an alarming rate and proper data on the species’ current status are missing. The status of many wetland species remains understudied and highly threatened. Tracking fishing cat gives us an indication of what might be happening to these ecosystems that guard against climate change and drought,” said Tiasa Adhya, another TFCP co-founder.