Context:

• In a significant development for wildlife research in India, experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, have collared three endangered fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) for the first time in the country. This initiative, conducted at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), aims to gather critical data on the species' home range, behavior, breeding patterns, and prey preferences.

About Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS)

• Location: Situated in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, at the confluence of the Coringa River and the Bay of Bengal within the Godavari estuary.
• Landscape: Approximately 40% of the sanctuary comprises sea backwaters, while the rest includes creek systems that experience regular tidal inundation.
• Vegetation: Features a mix of mangrove forests and dry deciduous tropical forests. It is the second-largest mangrove forest area in India.
• Flora: Includes key mangrove species such as:
  • Rhizophora spp.
  • Avicennia spp.
  • Sonnertia spp.
• Fauna:
  • Mammals: Home to endangered species like the Smooth Indian Otter, Fishing Cat, and Jackal.
  • Birds: Hosts species such as the Black-capped Kingfisher, Brahminy Kite, Seagulls, Reef Heron, and Sandpiper.
  • Marine Life: The coastline of CWS serves as a vital breeding ground for Olive Ridley Turtles.

Fishing Cat:

Key Facts

• Scientific Name: Prionailurus viverrinus
• Size and Appearance: Medium-sized wild cat with a stocky build, short legs, a short tail, and a round, slightly elongated face. Females are smaller than males.
• Behavior:
  • Solitary and nocturnal
  • Rest during the day in dense vegetation and hunt at night
  • Excellent swimmers, adapted to semi-aquatic habitats
• Habitat: Primarily found in:
  • Wetlands
  • Swamps and marshes
  • Oxbow lakes
  • Reed beds
  • Tidal creeks and mangrove forests

Distribution of the Fishing Cat

• India: Found in:
  • Sundarbans mangroves
  • Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys
  • Western Ghats
• International Range: Includes:
  • Southeast Asia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Pakistan (western regions)
  • Southern China
  • Java and Sumatra

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix II
• Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I