Fishing Cat

Vulnerable

Prionailurus viverrinus

Size: 23 - 24 inches long, 15 - 25 pounds

Lifespan: 10 - 30 years

Range/Habitat: Southwest Inida, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia in densely vegetate areas near water: marshes, mangroves, rivers, and streams.

Fishing cats catch fish by lightly taping the surface of the water in an attempt to mimic an insect landing to draw fish to the surface. They then dive into the water to catch any fish that rise to the surface. They can also use their partially webbed paws to either scoop fish or frogs out of the water, or swim underwater after birds. When it does swim, it can use its tail as a rudder to control underwater movement.

Conservation Concerns:

Fishing cats are threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture and human development. They are also hunted and injured due to pollution in their water sources. The bright spot in the future of the fishing cat, is that they seem to adapt well to human presence. That is, they live well in suburban areas, so if we are able to cut pollution and keep our environment clean, fishing cats can live with us with no threat to our safety.