Beyond tigers: Fishing cats and the conservation challenge in Bangladesh
Unlike the strides made for its larger cousin, the conservation journey of the fishing cat remains riddled with research gaps and untapped potential, requiring immediate action
The latest issue of Big Cats magazine, an initiative by the International Big Cat Alliance, landed in my hands last week. I was captivated by the lead story — a testament to the conservation successes of the Amur leopard in the Russian Far East. The eloquence of the writing drew me in, and I finished the article in one sitting. But as I closed the magazine, a lingering thought took hold: where is the parallel for Bangladesh?
Here, the plight of big cats remains largely neglected, their stories unraveling in silence. We know alarmingly little about our leopards and clouded leopards. Most people in the country are unaware of their existence, and even among the few who do, many dismiss these animals as unworthy of conservation investment.
After some reflection, it is not the big cats but a small cat — the fishing cat — that presents a situation strikingly similar to the early days of Amur leopard conservation.
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Much like the Amur leopard, the fishing cat (Mecho Biral in Bangla) is a marvel of adaptation and stealth, embodying the delicate balance of life in its watery kingdom. Renowned for its semi-aquatic lifestyle and exceptional fishing prowess, this medium-sized wild cat thrives in wetlands, marshes, and mangrove forests.
But its survival in Bangladesh is fraught with challenges — human encroachment, habitat degradation, and a startling lack of awareness mirror the plight of the Amur leopard. However, unlike the strides made for its larger cousin, the conservation journey of the fishing cat remains riddled with research gaps and untapped potential, requiring immediate action.
A cat of water and shadows
In the mangroves of the Sundarbans and the wetland-rich regions of Bangladesh, the fishing cat silently navigates its watery world. Its webbed paws and dense, water-resistant fur are evolutionary marvels, tailored for a life alongside rivers, ponds, and swamps.
But this cat of "water and shadows" is increasingly a ghost of its former self.
Their population in Bangladesh remains largely undocumented, with no precise estimate of its numbers. Many estimate its population is rapidly declining, mirroring trends in the disappearance of protected and non-protected wetlands.
A parallel conservation tale
The Amur leopard's journey from near-extinction to recovery offers a glimmer of hope for fishing cats in Bangladesh.
Firstly, the number of fishing cats has yet to go down below triple digits. And, just as the creation of the Land of the Leopard National Park and transboundary reserves have safeguarded the leopards in Russia, Bangladesh could adopt similar large-scale, focused conservation initiatives for fishing cats.
Currently, the species benefits only marginally from protected areas like the Sundarbans Reserve Forest and some wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. However, these areas are not explicitly managed with fishing cats in mind.
Bangladesh lacks a "fishing cat-specific conservation zone", akin to the Land of the Leopard National Park, where targeted efforts could ensure their protection. Instead, the species often finds itself overshadowed by flagship species like the Bengal tiger in the Sundarbans.
In other wetlands, there is no other conservation ambassador species, and the cat gets mercilessly killed whenever caught. There is no effort towards the restoration of the relationship between humans and fishing cats.
Research gaps: What we do not know
Unlike the now well-documented Amur leopard, fishing cats remain shrouded in mystery and key knowledge gaps hinder conservation efforts.
Population estimates: While Amur leopards benefit from robust population monitoring using camera traps and transboundary photo databases, no similar initiatives exist for fishing cats in Bangladesh.
Without baseline population data, it is impossible to assess trends or evaluate conservation success.
Habitat use and range: Fishing cats are known to inhabit wetlands, yet their specific habitat preferences, range dynamics, and seasonal movements in Bangladesh remain poorly studied. Camera-trapping studies in Bangladesh, though limited, reveal their presence, but more systematic efforts are needed to map their range.
Diet and prey availability: The prey base of Amur leopards is meticulously monitored, but there is scant data on the diet of fishing cats in Bangladesh. Are they relying primarily on fish, or do they also target amphibians, crustaceans, or small mammals?
Understanding their prey preferences is crucial for designing conservation interventions. Prey identification plays a big part because fishing cats are often accused of taking down poultry and fish from coops and farms.
Human-wildlife conflict: Much like the Amur leopard's historical conflict with poachers, fishing cats face threats from retaliatory killings by fish farmers. Incidents of fishing cats raiding fish farms are poorly documented, and a lack of community engagement exacerbates the problem.
There are allegations like, "A fishing cat will kill everything once it enters a coup, be there 100 chickens or 200 ducks." Surplus hunting in cats is an interesting topic of study but a behaviour of that alleged scale has never been heard of. Debunking superstition with scientific assessment can certainly help fishing cats be free of guilt.
Genetic diversity: Genetic studies of Amur leopards have shed light on their population health and structure, guiding reintroduction programs. Fishing cats in Bangladesh, however, remain genetically unresearched, leaving questions about inbreeding and population viability unanswered.
Most of the fishing cat conservation efforts in Bangladesh are centred around certain sites, with little consideration given to the broader genetic health of the population. Without genetic studies, it is impossible to assess whether the small, isolated areas are a concern or how viable isolated populations may be in the long term.
Lessons from the Amur leopard
The success of the Amur leopard's recovery underscores the importance of multi-pronged conservation efforts. For fishing cats in Bangladesh, the following strategies could be transformative:
Dedicated protected areas: Establishing fishing cat conservation zones, particularly in wetland hotspots like the Gangetic wetlands and the Haor Basin, could provide critical refuges for the species.
Community engagement: Much like the anti-poaching patrols and community outreach efforts for the Amur leopard, involving local communities in fishing cat conservation is vital. Incentives for fish farmers to coexist with fishing cats could reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Collaborative research: Bangladesh could learn from the transboundary collaboration between Russia and China for Amur leopards. Collaborative research with neighbouring countries like India, where fishing cats are also found, could provide insights into their shared population dynamics.
Baseline monitoring: Implementing systematic camera-trapping and genetic studies, akin to the Amur leopard's monitoring programs, would fill critical knowledge gaps.
Hope for the future
The fishing cat's story in Bangladesh remains unwritten, its survival hanging in the balance. But the Amur leopard's journey offers a blueprint for hope. By addressing research gaps and committing to focused conservation action, Bangladesh can rewrite the fate of this aquatic predator.
Protecting the fishing cat is more than a species-specific goal — it is a step toward safeguarding wetlands, the ecosystems they support, and the communities that depend on them.
The question now is whether we will let the fishing cat fade into obscurity or allow it to rise as a symbol of resilience and coexistence. The Amur leopard has bounced back from the brink, recovering from a population of just 35 individuals in the 2000s to around 150 today. It would be a tragedy if Bangladesh fails to act for the small yet remarkable fishing cat.
